SF Health Code Article 19Q bans the sale of all flavored tobacco products including menthol cigarettes, flavored e-cigarettes, and flavored cigars, upheld by voters in 2018 Proposition E and reinforced by California Senate Bill 793.
SF passed the country's most comprehensive local flavored tobacco ban in 2017, covering menthol, mint, fruit, candy, and dessert flavors across cigarettes, cigars, vape liquids, and smokeless products. The tobacco industry funded a 2018 Proposition E referendum to repeal the ordinance, but voters upheld it 68 to 32 percent. California's SB 793 in 2020 enacted a similar statewide ban also affirmed by voters in 2022 Proposition 31. SF Health Code Article 19Q is enforced by DPH Tobacco Free Project through retailer inspections including underage compliance checks. Hookah lounges with limited exceptions exist for certain establishments.
Selling prohibited flavored tobacco can trigger fines of $500 to $1,000 per violation, license suspension, and after multiple violations permanent revocation of the SF Tobacco Retailer Permit.
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