Billboards Advertising Tobacco, Alcohol Banned

The City Council has effectively banned billboards advertising tobacco and alcohol products at the prompting of a group of middle-school students.

The council voted unanimously late Tuesday to approve the ordinance that prohibits such advertisements within 1,000 feet of schools, parks, recreational facilities or places of worship. All five billboards within the city limits fall within that distance of at least one of those establishments.

Councilman Thomas O’Leary said the action was prompted by a group of Sierra Vista Middle School students who suggested the city enact a law similar to one Compton adopted earlier this year.

The county has also enacted a similar ban in unincorporated areas.