Local Flavored Tobacco Bans Linked to Lower Youth Vaping in California

UC San Diego study finds policies did not increase youth cigarette smoking

Apr. 14, 2026 at 8:53am

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

Researchers from the University of California San Diego have found that local sales bans on flavored tobacco in California are associated with reduced youth vaping over time without increasing cigarette smoking. The study analyzed data from over 2.8 million middle and high school students and used a dynamic difference-in-differences design to track changes in tobacco use after the adoption of flavored tobacco bans in different cities.

Why it matters

Youth vaping remains a major public health concern, with high rates of nicotine dependence and long-term health risks. Flavored tobacco products have been identified as a key driver of youth e-cigarette use, prompting policymakers to restrict their sale as a strategy to curb underage vaping. This study provides evidence that such local policies can be an effective approach without leading young people to switch to traditional cigarettes, which has been a key concern.

The details

The researchers compared tobacco use among students in jurisdictions with flavored tobacco bans to those in areas without such policies. They found that in areas with a ban, 6.2% of students reported current e-cigarette use, compared to 7.7% in areas without one. Over time, the study found these policies were associated with sustained declines in youth vaping. However, the study found no meaningful association between flavored tobacco bans and cigarette smoking among youth.

  • The study analyzed data from the California Healthy Kids Survey between 2017 and 2022.
  • California voters approved a statewide flavored tobacco sales ban in 2022, which took effect in 2023.

The players

Eric Leas

Assistant professor at the UC San Diego Herbert Wertheim School of Public Health and Human Longevity Science and senior author of the study.

Giovanni Appolon

First author of the study who conducted this research as part of experiential learning as doctoral candidate in the UC San Diego – San Diego State University Joint Doctoral Program in Public Health.

UC San Diego Herbert Wertheim School of Public Health and Human Longevity Science

The institution where the researchers are affiliated.

San Diego State University

The institution that is part of the Joint Doctoral Program in Public Health with UC San Diego.

California Healthy Kids Survey

The survey that provided the data for the study, which includes students in grades 7, 9 and 11 and asks about past-month use of tobacco products.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“Our findings suggest that local flavored tobacco bans can be an effective strategy for reducing youth e-cigarette use. Importantly, we did not find evidence that these policies led young people to switch to cigarettes, which has been a major concern raised in policy debates.”

— Eric Leas, Assistant professor at the UC San Diego Herbert Wertheim School of Public Health and Human Longevity Science and senior author of the study

“Local policies gave us a valuable window into how flavored tobacco restrictions may influence youth behavior over time. As more jurisdictions adopt these policies, continued monitoring will help determine how enforcement, policy design and community context shape their public health impact.”

— Giovanni Appolon, First author of the study

What’s next

Future research will be needed to understand the long-term impact of statewide bans and how similar policies affect youth tobacco use across different regions and communities.

The takeaway

This study provides evidence that local flavored tobacco bans can be an effective strategy for reducing youth vaping without leading to increased cigarette smoking, addressing a key concern raised in policy debates. As more jurisdictions adopt these types of policies, continued monitoring will help determine how factors like enforcement and community context shape their public health impact.