Santa Ana, Calif. Bans Flavors for Vaping, Tobacco Products

The Santa Ana City Council on Tuesday voted in favor (7-0) of an ordinance that would ban the sale of flavored vaping and other tobacco products, including hookah. A second reading of the ordinance has not yet been scheduled.

“Santa Ana displayed courageous leadership to save Black lives and put the health of our kids ahead of the profits of Big Tobacco. Of special note is the inclusion of flavored cigars because the abundance of cheap flavored cigars is a big problem in our community,” stated African American Tobacco Control Leadership Council (AATCLC) co-chair Carol McGruder in an email. “We applaud Mayor Sarmiento, Mayor Pro Tem Bacerra, and Councilwoman Mendoza for their leadership in passing this bill.”

A trade group representing business owners in the hookah industry asked the council to reconsider its inclusion of hookah in the ordinance. They said that one way to balance the interests of lawmakers in protecting youth from flavored tobacco products, while preserving the hookah’s rich cultural tradition, would be actions similar to the California state bill SB 793, which bans flavored tobacco products but exempts hookah tobacco, loose leaf tobacco, and premium cigars.

The statewide measure also limits hookah tobacco sales to adults only and no minor can enter an establishment that sells it. The referendum is on the ballot in California on November 8, 2022.