Supervisor Cohen introduces ban on sale of flavored tobacco, including menthol

Supervisor Cohen introduced legislation at the Board of Supervisors meeting on April 18, 2017, to prohibit the sale of flavored tobacco products — including menthol cigarettes — within the City and County of San Francisco. The measure, Cohen said, would cover all tobacco product types "whether a cigarette, smokeless product, or otherwise" that have added flavoring intended to appeal to young people and vulnerable populations.

Cohen said tobacco companies "advertise 10 times more in black communities" and singled out marketing that packages flavored products to resemble candy such as "gummy bears and cotton candy," arguing the practice targets children and minority communities. He also cited an annual local healthcare cost figure, saying the city spends $380,000,000 "annually just addressing the health care costs" related to tobacco use.

Cohen said he was introducing the legislation with the mayor and with several supervisors listed as cosponsors. At the time of introduction he named Supervisors Safaí, Tang, Sheehy, Kim, Yi, Peskin, Ronan and Feuer among supporters; the transcript did not include the full cosponsor list beyond the names he announced in the chamber.

The introduction was legislative in nature; the Board did not take a final vote on the ordinance at the April 18 meeting. Cohen framed the measure as a public-health step aimed at reducing initiation among youth and reversing targeted industry marketing in communities of color and LGBTQ communities.

The item will proceed through the Board's legislative process, including committee hearings and a formal vote at a later meeting.