Flavored tobacco sales are now banned in California. The law targets these products
The sale of flavored tobacco is banned throughout California starting Wednesday, an effort to close what research shows is a popular gateway to tobacco addiction for young people.
The beginning of the statewide ban marks the end of a long and costly fight waged by the tobacco industry. After Gov. Gavin Newsom signed SB 793 in 2020, manufacturers spent millions trying to repeal it by placing Proposition 31 on the 2022 ballot. When voters upheld the ban by an overwhelming margin the industry sued, taking the matter all the way to the Supreme Court, which declined its petition.
California joins Massachusetts as the second state to impose a complete ban on flavored tobacco products, including menthol cigarettes. Rhode Island, New York and New Jersey prohibit the sale of flavored vaping products.
What products are banned?
Stores and vending machines in California are not allowed to sell the following flavored tobacco items:
- Menthol cigarettes
- Chewing tobacco
- Snuff
- Cigars
- E-cigarettes
- Roll-your-own tobacco
These include flavors such as menthol, mint, wintergreen, fruit, chocolate, vanilla, honey, candy, cocoa, dessert, alcoholic drink, herb or spice. Anything other than tobacco is considered flavored.
One caveat is that flavored hookah and shisha, flavored pipe tobacco and flavored premium cigars, are still allowed to be sold under exceptions provided in the Stop Tobacco Access to Kids Enforcement (STAKE) Act.
When will the flavored tobacco ban begin?
Flavored tobacco items will be barred from sale starting Dec. 21.
Can stores be fined?
Yes. Stores can incur $250 fines for each violation. It will be enforced by local police and community members can also report stores.
Some California counties, including Sacramento, already have bans in place.