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Regular-Health & Human Services   # 40.
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Board of Supervisors |
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Subject |
Introduce by title only, waive first reading, and receive public comment regarding amendments to the County’s Tobacco Retail Licensing Ordinance, which address youth tobacco use by decreasing the accessibility and appeal of tobacco products to minors including flavored and low cost tobacco products. (No general fund impact) (Larsen) |
Recommended Action |
Introduce by title only, waive first reading, and receive public comment regarding amendments to the County’s Tobacco Retail Licensing Ordinance, which address youth tobacco use by decreasing the accessibility and appeal of tobacco products to minors including flavored and low cost tobacco products. |
Strategic Plan Goal(s) |
Thriving Residents
Safe Communities
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Reason for Recommended Action/Background |
In 2009, The FDA banned the sale of flavored cigarettes primarily because of their attraction to youth. Unfortunately, this ban does not apply to the many other flavored tobacco products including cigars, cigarillos, chewing tobacco, snus, electronic cigarettes, and e-juice. Colorful packaging and sweet flavors make flavored tobacco products more appealing to youth as seen by increased rates of first time youth smokers using flavored tobacco products. Additional strategies to limit the accessibility and the appeal to youth, such as minimal packaging size and zoning laws, have successfully decreased youth cigarette use and should be applied to both unflavored and flavored tobacco products. An ordinance that places the same restrictions on all tobacco products, not just cigarettes, is a vital step toward reducing the access of tobacco to Yolo County youth. In December 2015, the Board authorized the Health and Human Services Agency and County Counsel to amend the County’s current Tobacco Retail Licensing policy to include language that eliminates the sale of flavored tobacco products, including menthol flavor, creates a minimum packaging size for little cigars, and limits the number of tobacco retailers.
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Collaborations (including Board advisory groups and external partner agencies) |
Change Lab Solutions, Yolo County Tobacco Prevention Coalition, Yolo County Anti-tobacco Youth Coalition, Yolo County Health Council |
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Fiscal Impact |
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Source of Funds for this Expenditure |
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