Wakulla County Restricts Selling of Flavored Tobacco Products

Crawfordville, Florida – On November 5, 2012 The Wakulla County Board of County
Commissioners adopted an ordinance that goes into effect February 1, 2013 restricting the selling
or distribution of flavored tobacco products at stores that sell to minors.  Through this ban
Wakulla joins other communities on the frontlines of public health, helping to reduce the
prevalence of teen tobacco use.
Flavored tobacco is tobacco products like cigars, cigarettes, snuff, chewing tobacco, smokeless
tobacco products and blunt wraps that have had artificial or natural flavors added to them.  In
2009, the FDA banned the sale of candy flavored cigarettes across the country, but other existing
and new tobacco products were left exempt to be handled by future action.
According to Tobacco Free Florida over the last few years the emergence of new flavored
tobacco products, presented in colorful and playful packaging and backed by hefty marketing
budgets, have parents, teachers, health advocates,  physicians, and communities rightly
concerned. Flavored tobacco appeals to younger audiences. In Florida, one in six kids between
the ages of 11 and 17 has ever tried flavored tobacco.  The tobacco industry’s own documents
show that these sweet tobacco products are designed to get children to start using tobacco
products. Taking these products out of stores where our kids shop is a huge step forward towards
keeping our youth tobacco free.
Starting February 1, 2013, convenience and grocery stores will not be able to sell candy flavored
tobacco products for which will be enforced by the Wakulla County Sheriff’s Office.  Any other
stores that only allow access to people over the age of 21 are able to continue selling flavored
tobacco products.  
For additional information related to this story, please contact Jessica Welch, Communications and Public
Services Director at (850) 926-0919 ext. 706.


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