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SHOREWOOD — Village officials will be keeping a closer eye on tobacco sales.

The village board Tuesday unanimously approved an ordinance regulating and licensing businesses that sell tobacco products.

Mayor Richard Chapman said village staff will be contacting all affected businesses over the next few months and setting them up with the proper paperwork to apply for a tobacco license.

Businesses that hold a liquor license are exempt from the tobacco licensing requirements.

Chapman estimates 10 to 25 businesses, like the village’s two tobacco shops and numerous gas stations, will be affected by the new ordinance. However, he expects the transition to be easy.

"This is not a huge administrative nightmare," he said.

The purchase or renewal of a license is $250 annually.

The licensing ordinance is designed to mirror that of the village’s liquor regulations and outlines more than two dozen restrictions on whom can be issued a license. For example, those applying for a license must be a U.S. citizen, never convicted of a felony and in good standing in the community.

Chapman, who sponsored the ordinance, said it brings more attention to the people selling controlled substances.

"It gives us a little more leverage with them to make sure they’re doing the right thing," he said.

Village police will inspect each licensee and will report violations to the mayor and village administrator Kurt Carroll. Those found in violation will be subject to suspension or revocation of its license. Chapman will preside over such hearings.

Suspensions will not exceed 30 days and fines will begin at $100 for the first offense, increasing to no less than $500 for subsequent offenses.

The village has been working on the tobacco licensing policy for over a year. With no changes from the ordinance’s first reading earlier this month, the board approved the measure without significant discussion.

DUBAI— The Gulf emirate of Dubai on Saturday banned the sale of tobacco to anyone under the age of 20 with immediate effect and barred young people from public areas in which smoking is allowed.

The announcement was made in public advertisements in Arabic-language newspapers as part of a "Youth Without Tobacco" campaign.

A spokesman for Dubai municipality told AFP that cigarette vendors and managers of public places such as cafes and restaurants have been instructed to ask clients for proof of identity even to smoke water pipes.

Those breaking the law would be fined, he said without elaborating.

Before Saturday’s ban the sale of cigarettes in Dubai was prohibited to anyone under 18 and smokers were not allowed to light up in public places including hotels, restaurants, cafes and offices.

The campaign was launched to coincide with World No Tobacco Day on Saturday.

The World Health Organisation said on Friday that only a total ban on all forms of tobacco advertising can stop the "constantly mutating virus" of the marketing industry and protect vulnerable young people.

Dubai, one of the seven United Arab Emirates, is a regional tourism and business hub that attracts millions of visitors each year.

The Senate voted 13-11 Thursday to change the definition of a Marlboro cigarettes to capture smokes being packaged as cigars. Cigars aren’t subject to the state’s $1.08 per pack cigarette tax.
The bill defines a Marlboro cigarettes by the materials used to make it and by its weight.
Supporters said the state is losing money from sales of the fake cigars. But Senate Republican Leader Ted Gatsas said the change imposes an unfair cost onto wholesalers who put the tax stamps on the packages. He said they will need new equipment to affix the stamps.
The House next considers the bill.