Sonoma County's Board of Supervisors unanimously voted to ban the sale of e-cigarettes and flavored tobacco in the county's unincorporated areas yesterday. This decision was driven by the escalating usage among young people and the associated public health risks. The County of Sonoma news report confirmed this development.

In Sonoma County, 46 percent of 11th graders have tried an e-cigarette, and 76 percent claim easy accessibility to these products, according to the California Healthy Kids Survey. 

"This action mirrors the Board's enduring commitment to local youth's health and safety," articulated Supervisor Chris Coursey. The supportive ordinance places Sonoma County in alignment with other regional cities — Petaluma, Sebastopol, and Windsor—they too have barred the sale of e-cigarettes and flavored tobacco.

Although California restricted the sale of most flavored tobacco products in 2022, with exceptions, Sonoma County's newly updated ordinance extends beyond state-level restrictions. For instance, the state's law does not cover online sales of these products, whereas the county rules set limitations, including via app-based deliveries and combined online-physical retail ("brick and click") sales points.

Currently, 79 licensed tobacco retailers operate in unincorporated Sonoma County, making up 23 percent of total tobacco retail outlets in the county. This prohibition of e-cigarettes and flavored tobacco sales goes a long way toward reducing accessibility for young consumers.

Public health officials and policymakers need to be proactive and alert as youth interaction with these forms of tobacco grows. The modifications to the Sonoma County law show the local government's ability to steer and respond to public health patterns.