The African American Tobacco Control Leadership Council: Advocating for a menthol cigarette ban in San Francisco, California

The African American Tobacco Control Leadership Council (AATCLC) is an advocacy group that works to inform the direction of tobacco control policy and priorities in the USA. This article narrates the AATCLC's work advocating for a comprehensive, flavoured tobacco product sales ban in San Francisco, California. Recommendations for tobacco control advocates and lessons learned from their work are provided. The article concludes by discussing conditions necessary to enact the policy. These include having a dedicated advocacy team, community support, a policy sponsor, and clear and repeated messaging that is responsive to community concerns.

Automated summary

For implementing tobacco control policies, having a dedicated advocacy team, community support, a policy sponsor, and clear and repeated messaging that is responsive to community concerns are essential.