Four smoke shop owners face civil penalties for selling flavored tobacco products.

Ever since the science about the perils of smoking became common knowledge, the tobacco industry has continued to reinvent itself. Nicotine is highly addictive no matter how it's consumed, including in vape form. Due to the appeal of flavored vapes to young people—including those under the legal age of 21 to buy tobacco in California—the state prohibits the sale of flavored tobacco products. 

The Monterey County District Attorney's Office filed civil complaints against four tobacco sellers for violating this prohibition, among other laws, with each paying penalties. (An injunction also prohibits them from violating these laws in the future.) 

Last year, the DA's Office received a grant to support investigation and enforcement of tobacco laws. DA investigators have attempted to make—and sometimes successfully did make—undercover purchases at 41 tobacco retailers across Monterey County. Only 26 of them complied. According to a statement from the DA's Office, the remaining 15 have either closed down or are facing enforcement actions. 

Among flavored vape products targeting young people, the DA lists OMG Blow Pop, Gummy White Ice and Peach Perfect Slush. 

The businesses found to be in violation are a 7-Eleven at 619 Main St. in Salinas, where the Pleasanton-based owner as ordered to pay $2,935. 

The Seaside-based owner of PDQ Mini Mary at 2000 Del Monte Blvd. in Seaside was also ordered to pay $2,935.

At Smoke Shop at 8055 San Miguel Canyon Road in Prunedale, the owner was fined $2,000 for unlawfully selling a flavored hemp smoke product. 

The steepest fines came down on King City Smoke (located at 560 Canal St.), where the owner was ordered to pay $30,435 for selling flavored tobacco as well as failure to have worker's comp insurance and paying an employee under the table, a labor law violation.