Sonoma County, California, Bans Flavored Tobacco Products to Protect Minors
According to official sources from the administrative office of Sonoma County, California, the county regulatory body voted on October 24th to implement a ban on the sale of flavored tobacco products in unincorporated areas of the county, effective immediately.
The amendment of the tobacco retail regulation is a response to public health data aiming to safeguard the local minors. Data indicates a rising trend of flavored tobacco product usage among adolescents in high school age groups.
Data from the California Children's Health Survey reveals that 46% of 11th-grade students in Sonoma County have reported using e-cigarettes. Additionally, a staggering 76% of students stated that obtaining e-cigarettes is either "quite easy" or "very easy".
According to medical research, these e-cigarettes may lead to serious health issues. A scientific statement by the American Heart Association in 2022 outlines the negative effects on the human body, including impacts on lung and cardiovascular function, brain health and addiction, as well as mental and sleep health.
Starting from 2022, California law will ban the sale of most flavored tobacco products. Additionally, local jurisdictions such as Sonoma County have implemented more stringent policies to restrict the flavors of tobacco. For example, while the state government's ordinance does not include online channels for flavored tobacco product sales, Sonoma County has heightened its oversight of local e-cigarette retailers. The new law imposes strict limitations on online sales through apps and store displays.
Currently, there are 79 licensed tobacco retailers in Sonoma County, making up 23% of the total number of tobacco retailers in the county.
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