California wants to become the first US state to completely ban tobacco sales

A bill is being considered in the California Congress aimed at banning the sale of tobacco products to people born in 2007 or later, a proposal that highlights the state's leading role in the fight against smoking.

Dubbed Assembly Bill 935, the bill seeks to ban all sales of tobacco products to people born on or after May 1,^er January 2007[1]. Submitted by Democratic Representative Damon Connolly, it is inspired by the text adopted in New Zealand which applies the same measures for people born from 1^er January 2009[2]. His goal is to create the first "tobacco-free generation" in the US state. "We can ensure that the next generation of California children do not become addicted to tobacco," he said at a press conference.

In concrete terms, the law would not penalize the holders of tobacco products, but would financially sanction sellers in the event of illegal sales.

California, a pioneer state in the fight against smoking

With this bill, California wants to set an example for other American states to follow. Golden State has been a pioneer in tobacco control for decades. The state became actively involved in tobacco control in the late 1980s following a popular democratic movement. This led the state to ban smoking in enclosed workplaces as early as 1995, including bars and restaurants.[3]Since 2004, it has also been illegal to smoke outdoors within 6 metres of the entrance to a public building, while smoking while driving in the presence of a minor has been illegal since 2008.[4]. In 2020, state Governor Gavin Newsom signed a law banning the sale of most flavored tobacco products. Despite pressure from the industry[5], voters voted in favor of this restriction[6].

Finally, several communities in the state have also established "tobacco-free" areas where smoking is completely prohibited. The city of Burbank banned tobacco consumption in most public spaces as of April 2007, including downtown, restaurant terraces, parks and near any building open to the public.[7]Marin County, in the San Francisco Bay Area, decided in May 2012 to ban smoking in all condos, apartments and residential terraces, subject to a fine of $1,001 and five days of community service.[8].

With these measures, California has become one of the states with the lowest consumption of tobacco products. According to Truth Initiative, the smoking rate among adults in California was 11.2%, compared to 16.1% nationally. Meanwhile, 5.4% of high school students reported smoking once in the past 30 days in 2017, compared to 8.8% federally.[9].

Keywords: California, United States, Tobacco, Smoking, Ban

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[1] California bill would eventually ban all tobacco sales, Los Angeles Times, published February 28, 2023, accessed March 23, 2023.

[2] New Zealand passes world-first tobacco law to ban smoking for next generation , The Guardian, published December 13, 2022, accessed March 23, 2023

[3] How California led the country to ban workplace smoking, UNDO, published on April 11, 2022, consulted on March 23, 2023

[4] AB 846 EXPANDS TUXEDO RESTRICTIONS, City of Lodi California

[5] California: ban on flavors postponed following appeal by the tobacco industry, Tobacco Free Generation, published on January 28, 2021

[6] California: Voters approve law banning flavored tobacco and vaping products, Tobacco Free Generation, published on November 15, 2022

[7] Burbank smoking ban extended to outdoor sites, Los Angeles Daily News, published March 29, 2007, accessed March 23, 2023

[8] Sailor smoking ban stretches into the home, San Francisco Bay, published May 23, 2012, accessed March 23, 2023

[9] Tobacco use in California 2020, Truth Initiative, October 2020