Twain Harte, CA Tobacco & Vaping: Flavored Tobacco Bans (2026)
Key Facts
- Statute
- CA SB 793
- Proposition
- Prop 31 upheld 2022
- Fine
- $250 per sale
- Exempt
- Premium cigars, loose pipe
Summary
California Senate Bill 793 bans retail sale of most flavored tobacco products, including menthol and flavored vapes, statewide and inside Tuolumne County.
104559.5. (b) (1) A tobacco retailer, or any of the tobacco retailer's agents or employees, shall not sell, offer for sale, or possess with the intent to sell or offer for sale, a flavored tobacco product or a tobacco product flavor enhancer. (2) There is a rebuttable presumption that a tobacco product is a flavored tobacco product if a manufacturer or any of the manufacturer's agents or employees, in the course of their agency or employment, has made a statement or claim directed to consumers or to the public that the tobacco product has or produces a characterizing flavor, including, but not limited to, text, color, images, or all, on the product's labeling or packaging that are used to explicitly or implicitly communicate that the tobacco product has a characterizing flavor. (a) (1) "Characterizing flavor" means a taste or odor, distinguishable by an ordinary consumer either prior to or during the consumption of a tobacco product, other than the taste or odor of tobacco, including, but not limited to, tastes or odors relating to any fruit, chocolate, vanilla, honey, candy, cocoa, dessert, alcoholic beverage, menthol, mint, wintergreen, herb, or spice, or a cooling sensation distinguishable by an ordinary consumer during the consumption of a tobacco product. (i) This section does not preempt or otherwise prohibit the adoption of a local standard that imposes greater restrictions on the access to tobacco products than the restrictions imposed by this section.
Full Breakdown
SB 793, upheld by voters as Proposition 31 in 2022, prohibits the sale of flavored tobacco products and tobacco product flavor enhancers at retail in California. Twain Harte general stores, gas stations, and smoke shops cannot sell menthol cigarettes, flavored cigars, fruit or mint vape pods, or similar products. Loose-leaf pipe tobacco, hookah at certain licensed lounges, and premium cigars are partially exempt. Tuolumne County Environmental Health and the California Department of Tax and Fee Administration enforce the ban through inspections, undercover stings, and license actions against retailers.
Violations & Fines
Selling flavored tobacco is a $250 infraction per violation, with state license suspension or revocation for repeat offenses.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can adults buy flavored vapes online?
Are menthol cigarettes still sold?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Twain Harte
California rules heatmap·Compare Twain Harte to another location·View the California tobacco & vaping overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.