Plymouth bans flavored tobacco, tightens licenses

The Plymouth City Council voted April 28, 2026, to ban flavored tobacco sales within city limits and tighten licensing rules in a move aimed at curbing youth vaping. (fox9.com)

The ordinance sets the maximum number of new tobacco licenses at zero, bans price promotions, raises license fees and increases penalties for violations. New rules also create a 500-foot buffer between any tobacco license and schools or youth-oriented parks and align Plymouth with more than 30 Minnesota communities that restrict flavored tobacco.

The episode traces back to December 2017, when St. Louis Park became the first Minnesota city to ban flavored tobacco sales and raise the purchasing age to 21. Minneapolis and St. Paul later limited flavored sales to adult-only tobacco shops in 2017-2018, and Plymouth raised its purchase age to 21 in July 2018 before pursuing tighter limits again. By 2023, more than 30 Minnesota communities had similar restrictions while youth e-cigarette use among Minnesota high school students fell from 19.3% in 2020 to 13.9% in 2023.

Evidence from other states shows local flavored bans can lower youth vaping; jurisdictions with bans had 6.2% youth e-cigarette use versus 10.3% where bans were absent in a 2026 study. Plymouth began study sessions and hearings in late 2025 before the council vote, and officials say implementation and enforcement details will follow as licensing and inspection practices are updated.