Tobacco Information and Cessation Resources

Quit Smoking

Know the Facts  

For more information on vaping, visit bchd.org/vaping.

Smoking and COVID-19

The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health highlights smoking as a risk factor for serious illness from COVID-19 because smoking harms every system in the body and causes both cardiovascular disease and pulmonary disease. People who smoke are two to four times more likely to become seriously ill from COVID-19 (i.e. requiring hospitalization, being admitted to the ICU, needing mechanical ventilation and dying) when compared to those who did not smoke. For more information on COVID-19, visit bchd.org/coronavirus

Youth 

General Facts  

In the Beach Cities 

Adults 

General Facts  

In the Beach Cities 

Health Impacts of Tobacco Use  

Dangers of Underage Tobacco Use 

Tobacco Control Policies in the Beach Cities

Beach Cities Health District partners with the cities of Hermosa Beach, Manhattan Beach and Redondo Beach to strengthen tobacco ordinances to make clean air possible for residents of all ages. During the past couple years, the Beach Cities have adopted several tobacco control policies aimed at smoke-free public places, regulations in the retail environment and protections for youth. 

CITYDETAILSADOPTED
Hermosa Beach
Ban on electronic smoking devices and prohibiting the issuance of new tobacco retail licensesHermosa Beach City Council voted to prohibit the sale of all electronic smoking devices and vaping products and to cap the number of tobacco retail licenses to those retailers currently operating in the city.Adopted Feb 11, 2020
Tobacco Retail License expansion to include flavor ban at all retailersExpands existing tobacco retail license to extend the flavor ban at all retailers including “adult-only” retailers that were exempted in prior ordinanceAdopted May 28, 2019
Tobacco Retail LicenseEstablishes local Tobacco Retail License program to prevent illegal sales of tobacco products to minors, includes a prohibition on the sale of all flavored tobacco products, including menthol. The sale of flavored tobacco products is permitted in “adult only” establishments. The ordinance prohibits new retailers from being within a 500-feet radius of youth-sensitive areas. The ordinance also requires that little cigars are sold in packs of at least 20 little cigars.Adopted Jan 8, 2019
Comprehensive Smoking Ban in Outdoor and Public PlacesProhibits smoking in all public places in the City of Hermosa Beach, and prohibits the use of electronic cigarettes wherever smoking is not allowed.Adopted Aug 23, 2016
Manhattan Beach
World Health Organization’s (WHO) “World No Tobacco Day Award” in the Region of the AmericasCity of Manhattan Beach was selected as a co-winner by WHO for accomplishments in tobacco regulationAwarded May 31, 2021
Full Tobacco Retail BanProhibits the sale of all tobacco products in the City of Manhattan Beach, effective January 1, 2021.Adopted Feb 18, 2020
Ban of vaping products and all flavored productsManhattan Beach City Council adopted an ordinance to prohibit the sale of all vape products, electronic smoking devices and eliminated prior flavor exemptions to include a prohibition on the sale of all flavored tobacco, including menthol cigarettesAdopted Nov 5, 2019
Multi-Unit HousingSmoking prohibited inside any units or any outdoor areas of a multi-unit housing property that has 3 or more units.Adopted Oct 20, 2015
Tobacco Retail LicenseEstablishes local Tobacco Retail License program to prevent illegal sales of tobacco products to minors, includes a prohibition on the sale of all flavored tobacco products (exemptions to mint, menthol, spearmint, wintergreen). No retailers within 500 feet of schools or within 500 feet of other retailersAdopted Dec 1, 2015
Comprehensive Smoking Ban in All Public PlacesProhibits smoking in all public places in the City of Manhattan Beach, and prohibits the use of electronic cigarettes wherever smoking is not allowed. Only places smoking is allowed is:
• Private residential property, other than those used as a child-care or health-care facility subject to State licensing requirements.
• In up to twenty percent of guest rooms in any hotel or motel that meets certain conditions.
• Within a moving vehicle.
Adopted Jun 17, 2014
Redondo Beach
Comprehensive Outdoor Smoking BanProhibits smoking in all public places in the City of Redondo Beach, and prohibits the use of electronic cigarettes wherever smoking is not allowed. Business owners can apply for designated smoking areas on their property.Adopted Oct 15, 2019
Tobacco Retail LicenseEstablishes local Tobacco Retail License program to prevent illegal sales of tobacco products to minors, includes a prohibition on the sale of all flavored tobacco products (hookah lounges exempted).Adopted Oct 15, 2019

Hermosa Beach

Hermosa Beach enacted a comprehensive smoking ban in all public places in 2016. In January 2019, the Hermosa Beach City Council approved amendments to the municipal code requiring local tobacco retailers to purchase an annual business license to continue the specific sale of tobacco products. These provisions include a ban on the sale of all flavored tobacco products and electronic smoking devices. The intent of the tobacco retail license is to limit the sale of electronic smoking devices and flavored tobacco products to youth in the community. Due to the adoption of these recent policies, Hermosa Beach’s annual American Lung Association State of Tobacco Control grade improved from a “D” in 2019 to a “B” in 2020.

Learn more about Hermosa Beach’s smoke-free policy, Healthy Air Hermosa.

Manhattan Beach

In February 2020, Manhattan Beach became the second city in the nation to prohibit the sale of all tobacco products within the city. Along with Beverly Hills, these retail bans will go into effect January 1, 2021. In addition, Manhattan Beach has enacted a comprehensive ordinance banning smoking in all public places, including multi-unit housing, and implemented a tobacco retail permit that aims to reduce the illegal sale of tobacco products to minors while banning the sale of flavored tobacco products. In October 2019, the Manhattan Beach City Council adopted an ordinance banning the sale of e-cigarette and vaping devices due to emerging health concerns. In 2016, The American Lung Association’s annual State of Tobacco Control Report awarded Manhattan Beach an “A” tobacco control grade – a dramatic improvement from the “D” grade it received in 2015.

Learn more about Manhattan Beach’s smoke-free policy, Breathe Free MB.

Redondo Beach

Redondo Beach has enacted a comprehensive smoking ban in all public places. In October 2019, the Redondo Beach City Council enacted a tobacco retail ordinance ending the sale of all flavored tobacco products, including vape and e-cigarette devices. The City Council also amended the Municipal Code to include measures regulating the possession of tobacco products by minors on school grounds. These great strides in tobacco control moved Redondo Beach from an “F” grade in the American Lung Association’s 2019 State of Tobacco Control to a “B” in 2020.

Learn more about Redondo Beach’s newest tobacco policy.

Tobacco Control Policies 

Read the U.S. Surgeon General’s Executive Summary on Smoking Cessation here.

Cessation Tips

Quitting smoking greatly reduces the risk of developing smoking-related diseases. Here are a few tips on how to quit smoking:

Additional Resources

Learn the facts and find resources to get help.