Oceanside, CA (August 20, 2020) —Before COVID-19 hit the US, we faced a different public health crisis of a youth vaping epidemic. While the use of traditional combustible cigarettes has been on the decline among teens, vaping has sharply increased. In the last two years, vaping has increased by 218% among middle schoolers and 135% among high schoolers. A study from Stanford School of Medicine published in the Journal of Adolescent Health earlier this month found that teen and young adult e-cigarette users are five to seven times more likely to be diagnosed with COVID-19.
“Tobacco products, especially vaping and vaping paraphernalia, are an especially critical health and safety issue for our youth,” said Oceanside Councilmember Esther Sanchez. “It almost seems like what’s been happening with tobacco for the youth was in decline, but then with vaping products, it shot up.”
Reducing easy access to harmful tobacco products, including e-cigarettes or vaping, is one of the most important ways to prevent young people from starting a life-long addiction. A Tobacco Retail Licensing (TRL) policy will do just that. It requires retailers who sell tobacco products, including electronic smoking devices (i.e., vapes), to obtain a local license and is a proven and cost-efficient way to keep tobacco products out of the hands of minors.
Although State law prohibits the sale of tobacco products to anyone under the age of 21, it does not include a process to prevent future underage sales, nor provide funding for enforcement. A local TRL will provide Oceanside with the resources to hold tobacco retailers accountable.
There are approximately 100 known businesses within the City of Oceanside that sell tobacco products. The fee amount will be presented at a future public hearing. Locally, the City of Oceanside voted 5-0 in favor of introducing the new policy. Oceanside joins six other cities in San Diego County with a strong TRL policy in Vista, San Marcos, El Cajon, Lemon Grove, Chula Vista, and Solana Beach.
