California Bans Anyone Born in 2007 from Buying All Tobacco Products

VIVA – California government will consider Assembly Bill 935 that would ban the sale of tobacco products to anyone born on or after January 1, 2007.

Tobacco products included in the ban are "cigarettes, cigars, little cigars, chewing tobacco, pipe tobacco, vaping liquids, or snuff and more," according to the text of the bill.

Currently, Californians must be 21 years of age or older to purchase tobacco products, but the law will be replaced with a new law, if passed.

For example, in 2029, only those 22 and older would be able to purchase tobacco, and in 2040, only those 33 years and older.

The bill would also provide penalties for violations, including escalating civil fines and the suspension or revocation of the sellers license to sell tobacco products.

Assemblyman Connolly wrote the bill as a measure to improve public health, as well as the health of the next generations in California.

Then, Connolly also noted that the bill was similar to laws passed in New Zealand, which set a tobacco ban for all born after 2009, and Norway, which has a proposed ban for anyone born after 2000.

“Preventing the next generation of Californians from becoming addicted to smoking should be a priority for anyone who cares about the public health of our state and the well-being of our children,” said Assemblyman Connolly to the Globe on Wednesday. 

The bill will also include penalties for violations, such as "increased civil fines and suspension or revocation of the seller's license to sell tobacco products," if tobacco products are sold to minors, according to the text of the bill.

Moreover, the Premium Cigar Association, a trade association that represents and assists premium tobacco retailers, voiced its opposition to the bill in a press release.

“We are deeply concerned about AB 935 and any legislation that seeks to restrict the rights of premium cigar smokers,” said Joshua Habursky, deputy executive director of the Premium Cigar Association.

“These proposals are not based on scientific evidence, but rather on a political agenda that seeks to demonize adult cigar smokers and restrict their freedom to enjoy a legal product. Clearly it is no longer a hidden agenda of the anti-tobacco groups to support full prohibition.” Habursky explained. 

Others have taken a more nuanced view, saying that while it is well known that using tobacco products are bad for peoples health and that it is still considered one of the largest public health crises out there.

It is also still a legal product in the country and that use itself isn’t covered under the bill, meaning that older Californians can still buy for those 21 and older or that they can buy out of state.

Assembly Bill 935 is expected to be heard in committee on March 17.