Minn. soda shop rebuked for stocking candy smokes
ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — Owners of an old-school soda shop in St. Paul, Minn., are being warned to kick the habit and stop stocking novelty candy cigarettes.
City inspectors threatened a misdemeanor citation and $500 fine if Lynden's soda fountain is caught selling the fake smokes again. The Star Tribune reported Wednesday that the offering violated an ordinance barring the sale of candy smokes and cartoon character lighters.
A city spokesman says the warning came after inspectors received and looked into a complaint about the presence of the tobacco-themed products. The ordinance was enacted to discourage youngsters from picking up a real smoking habit.
Shop owner Tobi Lynden says the white candy sticks with the red tips were her best-selling candy item but she pulled them to avoid running afoul of the ordinance.
City inspectors threatened a misdemeanor citation and $500 fine if Lynden's soda fountain is caught selling the fake smokes again. The Star Tribune reported Wednesday that the offering violated an ordinance barring the sale of candy smokes and cartoon character lighters.
A city spokesman says the warning came after inspectors received and looked into a complaint about the presence of the tobacco-themed products. The ordinance was enacted to discourage youngsters from picking up a real smoking habit.
Shop owner Tobi Lynden says the white candy sticks with the red tips were her best-selling candy item but she pulled them to avoid running afoul of the ordinance.
They're really a deterrent to smoking. They taste terrible when you light them.
Listen, when I need the smooth taste that can only be had from a Lucky Stark brand candy cigarette, what else am I to do?
Candy sticks are better than cancer sticks....but they can sell cancer sticks....makes no sense.
I have been smoking these candy cigarettes for 16 years...I have taste bud cancer.
I had many box's of chocolate ciggs when I was a kid. I have never smoked but I really like chocolate!
What a stupid law. Â Candy cigs. dont make kids smoke.
I remember these. They were dolled out by tobacco companies to promote the use of there products making kids think it was cool. I told mom and dad that I no longer wanted those when I was 8.
My favorite candy In the early 50's. Never made me smoke tobacco or use tobacco in any other way for that matter. I still love mint candy and wish I had some of those. Amazes me what people come up with to blame for someones actions. I drank Root Beer too, but never could stand the taste of BEER.
 @Yamhill354 I love Bartle and james "Root Beer"
This is such a crock. I lived in N. Portland growing up, and there was a corner candy store/soda fountain on Lombard called The Big Nickel. After school we'd go in and buy treats for the walk home...candy cigarettes were my favorite...they were minty. We also bought the bubble gum cigars that were sold, and thoroughly enjoyed them. I have never smoked...not ever. Kids aren't going to smoke from a box of candy smokes...they'll smoke from their friends and family who do.
@fracas ...they were minty alright. So much so they tasted exactly like toothpaste:(
Go ahead and ban them, they can get their REAL smokes illegally along with their gunbs, ammo and liquor...
Where on the pack is the surgeon general's warning abut tooth decay?
@Kushfan It's rigt next to the warning that the Tooth Fairy is a hoax.
AAAAAHHHHHHH!!!!!
 @WendyTeagarden  @Kushfan Hu uh, I got $1 per tooth once when I was 15. I got in a fight that day and got $7 that night under my bloody pillow!
I loved these so much back in the late fifties that I still smoke today 55 years later, whats the problem?
@swimbad  It's no wonder that you get my jokes.
Don't people have anything real to worry about? I had these as a kid and I didn't start smoking.
@axpman "Don't people have anything real to worry about?"...apparently not since we're all on this forum;-)