Oakland, Calif. Passes Ban on Flavored Tobacco

The sales of flavored tobacco in Oakland, Calif. will soon come to an end, as on Tuesday the city council approved a ban on retailers other than specialty tobacco shops selling the products.

Known as the Oakland Children Smoking Prevention Ordinance, the ban will remove flavored tobacco products from the shelves of convenience stores, grocery stores, gas stations, and nearly all other stores that sell tobacco products.

Additionally, the ban requires all tobacco retailers to prominently display the full retail price of all tobacco products they sell, and forbids them from offering any discounts or accepting any coupons for such products.

The ban goes into effect in six months, approximately March 19, 2018, assuming that there are no challenges to it.

A similar ban passed by the San Francisco Board of Supervisors was challenged by a petition seeking its repeal; with the board refusing to reverse its direction, voters will decide the matter during a June 5, 2018 election.

Results of the ban’s passage was initially reported by the East Bay Times.