SAN JOSE (KCBS RADIO) – Adults living in the South Bay city of San Jose will now have to look elsewhere to get their menthol cigarettes and bubblegum Juul pods starting Friday.
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After the city passed a law nearly a year ago, a ban on the sale of flavored tobacco is finally going into effect, according to a release issued by the city last week.
"The ban applies to any tobacco products with an artificial flavor, natural flavor, aroma, herb or spice, including — but not limited to — cherry, chocolate, cinnamon, clove, cocoa, coconut, coffee, grape, licorice, menthol, mint, orange, pineapple, strawberry, vanilla, and other flavors," said the release.
"This includes products where such flavors characterize the smoke or vapor produced by the tobacco product," the release added. Not only does the ruling include cigarettes, but it also applies to e-cigarettes, e-cigars, e-pipes, vape pens, or e-hookahs.
The move was decided in an effort to curb the use of these types of products in young people.
"The tobacco industry has targeted youth with these colorful, flavored tobacco products, leading to an alarming rise in tobacco use among youth. We are proud to put the health of our youth first with these prohibitions," said Mayor Sam Liccardo in the release.
"Studies show that more than 80 percent of minors and young adults report that flavored tobacco was their first use of a tobacco product," said Chris Burton, director of the Planning, Building and Code Enforcement Department in the release.
These products will no longer be able to be sold within the city, and those who continue to do so could face strict fines – $2,500 a day.
Some could even have their tobacco licenses revoked altogether. Enforcement will be done with routine inspections from the city.
Certain products are exempt from the ban, including shisha, hookah, and premium cigars.
This could prove challenging to some retailers who rely on business from adults who enjoy the flavored products, according to reporting by KTVU.
"It's a lifestyle. It's something people do when they drink, they do when they come home, they do on their break at work and it is a much, much safer alternative to the things people were doing before that, like cigarettes and pipe tobacco," said Michael McTague, Hot Box Smoke Shop Manager, told the station.
The ordinance passed last fall also includes prohibiting new tobacco retailers from opening up within 1,000 feet of facilities that serve youth and within 500 feet of an existing tobacco retailer.
That requirement went into effect in November last year.
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