Will Pleasanton Regulate Vape Sales Too?

PLEASANTON, CA — The Pleasanton City Council received hours of supportive testimony Tuesday night on the possibility of regulating the sale of vapes, or electronic cigarettes, and flavored tobacco products.

Students turned out in full force to speak about how prevalent vape use is among peers and a lack of understanding about whether the devices are safe to use. One student said he showed up "to make sure that a high school bathroom isn't labeled the JUUL room because people are known to vape inside."

JUUL is the largest U.S. vape seller. Critics say its flavored vape liquid was designed to appeal to kids, though JUUL denies this, and pulled flavored products from shelves and some from its website late last year.

The Danville, Dublin, Livermore councils have all passed bans on vape sales.

The initial proposal put forward by the city differentiates between tobacco retailers, such as grocery stores that sell tobacco, and tobacco stores, which derive at least 60 percent of their revenue from tobacco products and only allows customers 18 years or older to enter the store.

The proposal calls for: sales of flavored tobacco products and vapes to be allowed only at tobacco stores; the prohibition of new tobacco stores and sales within 1,000 feet of public schools, parks and recreation areas; the creation of a tobacco retailer licensing program to require sellers to get a permit each year and impose penalties on retailers who do not comply; prohibition of tobacco product possession of people younger than 21 years old and allow confiscation of such items, but not impose fines or criminal penalties.

The council was told during the discussion that four retailers, including two tobacco stores, sold to underage buyers during an August 2019 decoy operation. There were no underage sales at a follow-up decoy conducted this month.

The Pleasanton-Coalition for Health Against Tobacco said 90 percent of 636 respondents supported the adoption of tobacco retail licenses for retailers who want to sell tobacco. Nearly 80 percent of respondents were Pleasanton residents.

Eighty-seven percent said they wanted the sale of all flavored tobacco products restricted. Eighty percent said they want restrictions on the sale of small packages of tobacco, such as singles, and 73 percent of respondents expressed support for minimum pricing guidelines.

Meanwhile, Pleasanton's Community Education Series will host a panel discussion on vaping myths, statistics, support services and addiction signs at 7 p.m., March 5, Firehouse Arts Center (4444 Railroad Ave.). Parents and guardians are encouraged to bring their kids ages 11 years and older.

Register here with course code #18655 and contact Andrea McGovern with questions at 925-931-5359.

Read the initial proposal here.

— Bay City News contributed to this report

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