San Diego votes 7-2 to end the sale of all flavored tobacco products

SANTA ANA, CA – After more than a year of community engagement and advocacy by the African American Tobacco Control Leadership Council (AATCLC) and our partner organizations, the Santa Diego City Council voted 7-2 to end the sale of menthol and all flavored tobacco products, including flavored cigars and flavored e-cigarettes.

For decades, Big Tobacco has used menthol flavored tobacco products to target African Americans. 85% of all African American smokers smoke menthol cigarettes compared to 29% of White smokers. Menthol cigarettes increase addiction and make it harder to quit.

“San Diego displayed strong leadership to save Black lives and put the health of future generations ahead of the profits of Big Tobacco,” explained AATCLC Co-Chair Carol McGruder. “This fight is not over until the products used by Big Tobacco to hook Black Americans are off the market in San Diego, across California, and in every part of our country. Together, we will bring upon the day where no Black people die avoidable deaths due to tobacco.”

Formed in 2008, the African American Tobacco Control Leadership Council is one of our country’s leading public health education and advocacy organization taking on Big Tobacco to save Black lives. The AATCLC works at the intersection of social injustice and public health policy. Working with health jurisdictions, elected officials, community-based organizations, tobacco researchers, activists, and the media, the AATCLC is leading the fight to end the sale of menthol and all flavored tobacco products.