San Francisco was the first US city to raise tobacco purchase age to 21 (2016) and the first to ban sales of flavored tobacco (Prop E, 2018). Federal T21 and CA SB 793 now reinforce both. All tobacco products including vapes require buyer to be 21+ with valid ID. E-cigarette sales further restricted under SF Health Code Article 19Q.
San Francisco pioneered Tobacco 21, passing a city-wide age-21 law in 2016 ahead of federal action. The federal Tobacco 21 law (Dec 2019) and California STAKE Act now provide an absolute floor. SF Health Code Article 19H requires every retailer to hold a Tobacco Sales Permit and prohibits sales to anyone under 21. Proposition E (June 2018) banned the sale of all flavored tobacco products including menthol cigarettes, flavored cigars, and flavored e-liquids — a ban later mirrored statewide by CA SB 793. SF Health Code Article 19Q further prohibits the sale of e-cigarettes that have not received FDA premarket authorization, effectively limiting vape availability in city stores. Pharmacies have been prohibited from selling any tobacco since 2008. SFDPH Environmental Health Branch conducts compliance inspections and decoy operations.
Retailer violations: $250 first offense, $500 second, $1,000 plus 90-day permit suspension for third within 5 years. Selling flavored tobacco or unauthorized e-cigarettes carries fines up to $1,000 per product. Repeat violators face permit revocation. Furnishing to minors under 21 is also a state misdemeanor under CA B&P §22958.
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