The City of San Francisco and the Environmental Law Foundation recently won a three-year battle against manufacturers of smokeless tobacco when eight companies agreed to pay $2.75 million to the San Francisco Department of Public Health. The settlement also requires the companies to sponsor tobacco education in California.

The lawsuit alleged that the tobacco companies violated California's Safe Drinking Water and Toxic Enforcement Act, which requires warning labels on substances that may cause cancer or birth defects. Attorneys argued that chewing tobacco is toxic and that the companies implemented marketing campaigns designed to "hook" children on tobacco products. Eleven retail stores also agreed to post warning signs as part of the settlement.