Syracuse Mayor Ben Walsh on Friday signed a new local law aimed at reducing the number of tobacco retailers in the city.

It requires businesses selling tobacco products to maintain a city tobacco retail license, as well as requiring new locations to be at least 750 feet away from any school or public park. However, existing locations that are in compliance with city permitting requirements will be grandfathered in.

“This is a matter of public health,” Walsh said in a statement. “Our goals are to reduce the number of individuals of all ages who use tobacco products and electronic smoking devices and, importantly, to stop the sale of these products to minors. During our review of the ordinance we received strong support from public and private health organizations. I also thank the Common Council for its unanimous support for the law.”

According to Karyn Johnson, program coordinator of Tobacco-Free CNY, 34 tobacco retailers in the city of Syracuse are within 750 feet of a K-12 school. 

“The average age of a new smoker is 13 years old,” Johnson said in a statement. “Studies have shown that the higher the number of tobacco retailers, the more exposure to tobacco marketing occurs, making youth more likely to experiment with tobacco use. This marketing is prominently displayed, and the concentration of advertising is often higher in retailers close to schools and youth establishments.”

In an effort to reduce the number of shops over time, new locations will only be approved once two existing locations have expired or been revoked. 

The new law was approved by the Syracuse Common Council on Sept. 5 and is scheduled to go into effect Oct. 1.