Supervisors send menthol, flavored-tobacco ban to full board after hours-long hearing

The San Francisco Board of Supervisors’ committee voted without objection on June 20 to forward an ordinance that would prohibit the sale of menthol and other flavored tobacco products to the full Board, following an hours-long hearing that split public testimony between health advocates and small-business owners.

Supervisor Malia Cohen, who introduced the legislation, told the committee the measure is intended to "focus on flavors" because the tobacco industry has targeted young people and vulnerable groups. "The buck stops here," she said, arguing that restricting flavored products would help prevent lifelong addiction and reduce racial and geographic health disparities in the city.

The proposal would amend the city health code to ban retail sales of flavored tobacco and menthol cigarettes; it does not criminalize possession or use. City Controller staff summarized an economic-impact analysis that found three possible consumer responses to a sales ban—reduced initiation (a long-term health and economic benefit), substitution to unflavored products, or increased online purchases—and concluded the office could not…