Action Starts on San Francisco’s Total Flavor Ban

Campaign underway to repeal ordinance

 

July 2017

 

MINNEAPOLIS – Last week, the San Francisco Board of Supervisors voted unanimously to ban the sale of all flavored tobacco products, including menthol cigarettes, menthol, mint and wintergreen tobacco programs, flavored e-cigs/vapor products, flavored cigars and pipe tobacco. The ordinance goes into effect in April 2018, and it affects every kind of retailer that is licensed to sell tobacco products in San Francisco.

 

There was a significant industry effort that was taken to oppose the ordinance because of the devastating economic effect on retailers that sell tobacco products. With tobacco-product sales accounting for up to 36% of in-store sales for an average c-store, being prohibited from selling all flavored-tobacco products, including menthol cigarettes, would mean that consequences like losing jobs and stores closing are likely.

 

However, a new coalition called “Let’s Be Real San Francisco” has been formed to launch an effort to gather signatures from San Francisco voters to require the city’s Board of Supervisors to place a referendum question on an election ballot next year. Under the city’s code, a 30-day period is allowed to collect a sufficient number of voters’ signatures for a referendum question. If enough signatures are obtained, there are three different outcomes that the Board of Supervisors could consider. First, schedule the referendum vote for the next regular primary election that is on June 5, 2018. Second, set a special election date earlier than June 5, 2018, primary election date. However, San Francisco would need to cover the cost of this special election separate from the primary election. Third, the Board of Supervisors could consider repealing the flavor-ban ordinance.

 

“Let’s Be Real San Francisco” coalition is comprised of concerned citizens, business leaders, retailers and trade associations, including NATO. Securing the needed number of signatures for a referendum question to be placed on the ballot is a significant task, but one that is being taken to protect the right of retailers to sell lawful products and the right of legal-age adults to purchase legal tobacco products.

 

SOURCE: Thomas A. Briant. “Action Starts on San Francisco Total Flavor Ban” by CSP Daily News http://www.cspdailynews.com/category-news/tobacco/articles/action-starts-san-francisco-s-total-flavor-ban?utm_source=Marketing%20Cloud&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Tobacco_E_News_07-12-2017&sfmc_s=1743408