Sacramento County To Ban Flavored Tobacco Sales, Takes Effect In July

Sacramento County is dealing a major blow to big tobacco. The Board of Supervisors has voted to end flavored tobacco sales. Beginning in July, candy-flavored e-cigarettes, hookah tobacco, menthol cigarettes and sweet cigars will be banned. Under the new law, businesses would have six months to get rid of their current supply of products or face fines of up to $25,000. County officials say a significant amount of e-cigarettes sold by tobacco retailers includes flavored nicotine that is marketed towards youth. Menthol and flavored products are shown to act as gateway products that develop into more addictive smoking habits, according to the county. The city of Sacramento adopted a similar ordinance two years ago and Elk Grove did the same last year.