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Board reaffirms ordinance raising tobacco purchase age to 21 as state action looms
Summary
The Board of Supervisors re‑passed an ordinance to bar tobacco sales to people under 21 and discussed pending state legislation that could preempt local law.
The San Francisco Board of Supervisors on March 9 finally passed an ordinance that amends the city's health code to prohibit retailers from selling tobacco products, including e‑cigarettes and smokeless tobacco, to persons aged 18, 19 or 20.
Supervisor Scott Wiener, sponsor of the measure, told the board that the ordinance had passed the board at an earlier meeting and that the re‑pass was a routine step. Wiener noted two days after the city's action the state Assembly had passed a bill to increase the tobacco purchase age to 21; he said the state senate would take up the measure and the governor had not yet acted. Wiener said the city will monitor state activity and "evaluate whether our legislation is complimentary or conflicting" if the state enacts a law.
The Board adopted the ordinance unanimously on the final vote.
Why this matters: The item aligns the city with a national public‑health push to raise the tobacco purchase age to 21. Supervisors said the measure is trend‑setting locally but that state action could supersede the ordinance if the state enacts its own law.
What’s next: The city will monitor state legislative action and revise or suspend the local law as necessary if state preemption occurs.
