Another Lawrence tobacco retailer has had its license suspended for selling tobacco products to customers under 21 years of age, Lawrence-Douglas County Public Health announced on Friday.

The retailer is Tobacco Royal, 2016 W. 23rd St., and it is the second retailer this month to be suspended by health department officials for violating the city’s rules on sales to underage buyers.

According to a news release from LDCPH on Friday, the notice of suspension for Tobacco Royal was issued by LDCPH on March 25, and the business filed an appeal. LDCPH Executive Director Jonathan Smith reviewed the appeal in early April and held an informal hearing, after which he determined that the suspension was properly issued.

The suspension will prohibit Tobacco Royal from selling any tobacco products from April 21 through April 27, and all tobacco products and advertising on the premises must be removed from public view during that time. If the business does not comply, it could face other penalties, including additional fines or permanent revocation of its license, the release said.

Tobacco Royal was convicted twice within a 36-month period of selling tobacco products to individuals under the age of 21, the release said, and these violations occurred despite prior warnings and interventions by LDCPH.

LDCPH oversees the City of Lawrence’s tobacco retail licensing program and enforcement. Between November 2024 and mid-February 2025, it conducted 65 compliance checks, during which nine retailers, or 13%, were found to have sold tobacco products to underage buyers. The department notes in its release that in Lawrence, tobacco retailers “outnumber grocery stores, parks, and schools.”

The other tobacco retailer suspended this month was VIP Smoke Shop, 4000 W. Sixth St., which was issued a temporary suspension on April 9 for violating the age restrictions.