California Legislator Introduces Bill Banning Tobacco Sales to Anyone Born After Jan. 1, 2007

Yesterday, Assembly Member Damon Connolly, D-San Rafael, introduced a piece of legislation that would create a generational tobacco sales ban in the state, prohibiting retailers in California from selling tobacco products to anyone born on or after Jan. 1, 2007.

AB 935 would ban the sales of tobacco products in California to anyone born on or after Jan. 1, 2007. Connolly notes that the bill is constructed in a way that it would not ban sales to anyone who is currently able to purchase tobacco products in California. Because you must be at least 21-years-old to purchase tobacco products in California, you would need to be born in either 2002 or earlier.

If passed, anyone— be it a business or individual—who sold tobacco products to someone born in or after 2007 would face a first offense fine of between $400 and $600. That number steadily escalates for additional violations within a five-year period, maxing out at $6,000 for a fifth violation. Retailers could also have their tobacco retailer license suspended or revoked for multiple violations. The bill does not contain any language that would punish individuals born in or after 2007 who attempt to purchase tobacco products. Like other age restriction bills, it does not contain any new language that would punish people for the possession or consumption of tobacco products.

“We are deeply concerned about AB 935 and any legislation that seeks to restrict the rights of premium cigar smokers,” said Joshua Habursky, deputy executive director of the Premium Cigar Association (PCA), in a press release. “These proposals are not based on scientific evidence, but rather on a political agenda that seeks to demonize adult cigar smokers and restrict their freedom to enjoy a legal product. Clearly it is no longer a hidden agenda of the anti-tobacco groups to support full prohibition.”

The PCA said that it will be setting up an online petition to oppose AB 935 via CigarAction.org.

Connolly’s bill is similar to legislation enacted in New Zealand, where a law was passed in December 2022 to prevent persons born on or after Jan. 1, 2009 from ever purchasing tobacco products.

The bill has not yet been assigned to a committee.

Patrick Lagreid

I strive to capture the essence of a cigar and the people behind them in my work – every cigar you light up is the culmination of the work of countless people and often represents generations of struggle and stories. For me, it’s about so much more than the cigar – it’s about the story behind it, the experience of enjoying the work of artisans and the way that a good cigar can bring people together. In addition to my work with halfwheel, I’m the public address announcer for the Colorado Rockies and Arizona Diamondbacks during spring training, as well as for the Salt River Rafters of the Arizona Fall League, the WNBA's Phoenix Mercury, the G-League's Valley Suns, and previously the Arizona Rattlers of the Indoor Football League. I also work in a number of roles for Major League Baseball, plus I'm a voice over artist. Prior to joining halfwheel, I covered the Phoenix and national cigar scene for Examiner.com, and was an editor for Cigar Snob magazine.