The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors tentatively approved on Tuesday a 235-dollar annual fee on stores that sell tobacco as part of an effort to keep minors from smoking.

    The supervisors' 3-2 vote paves the way for the county health department to levy the fee on about 1,000 stores in unincorporated areas in the city.

    The money raised would fund efforts to discourage youths from smoking, including sting operations aimed at catching vendors who sell to juveniles, city officials said.

    Although state law prohibits the sale of tobacco to minors, 10.7 percent of retailers statewide still sell to minors, according to a report provided to the Board of Supervisors.

    In Los Angeles County, about 30 percent sell tobacco products to minors, according to the report.

    According to a county report, most adults who tried smoking had done so at the age of 16. Minors consume 924 million packs of cigarettes each year nationwide, earning the tobacco industry 460 million dollars in profit from underage smokers, the report said.

    The issue will return for a final vote next week. If it is approved a second time, as expected, it will take effect about 30 days later.