A BAN on flavored tobacco products and vapes has been given the go-ahead by the supreme court in California.

It comes after two-thirds of public voters in the state approved a ban on the sale of everything from candy-flavored vaping juice to menthol cigarettes.

The new law will see all flavored vaping products - except tobacco flavor - removed from store shelves and vending machines from December 21st.

The prohibition extends to nicotine-free e-liquid and "flavor enhancers" such as one-shot DIY mixes

California voters had the opportunity to approve or oppose the new legislation - called Proposition 31, which banned the sale of flavored tobacco products - during this year's November election.

A flavor ban had originally been passed two years ago but vape and tobacco companies collected 600,000 signatures from state residents who opposed it, which led to a public vote in November's general election which decided to uphold it.

The move makes California the largest state to ban such products, which is already illegal in a handful of smaller states, including New Jersey, Massachusetts and Rhode Island.

While many voters approved the ban to stop teenagers vaping, anti-tobacco groups and campaigners believe the new law could spell disaster for smokers who swapped tobacco for e-cigarettes - and thank flavors for successfully quitting.

Opponents also say it will incentivize a black market that would disregard strict federal regulations against underage smokers and flavored tobacco products, thereby significantly costing the state.

The 'no' campaign said in a statement:

"This is a disappointment to the millions of adults over the age of 21 who are now prohibited from purchasing these products as well as other FDA-authorized harm reduction alternatives."

Advice For Adult Vapers In California who are affected by the ban:

If you are an adult vaper in the state of California - particularly if you're one of the many who attributes flavor for switching successfully from cigarettes - Vaping.com recommends you stock up now, before shelves are cleared of prohibited e-juices and pre-filled disposables.

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Bottles of e-juice have a good shelf life, typically around two years, if stored correctly in a cool place away from direct sunlight.

There are four ingredients in e-liquid Propylene Glycol (PG), Vegetable Glycerin (VG), nicotine, and flavoring - which dictate how long a juice can be used for.

PG and VG have a very long shelf life, as these are stable diluent compounds, of around four to six years. Flavorings have a shelf life of around a year, but this is extended, and likely doubled as they are mixed with PG which extends it.

After this time nicotine starts to degrade - meaning users will experience less of a hit - while flavors can alter and weaken. If an e-liquid changes in any way, particularly in color - it may darken significantly - or the flavor disappears, while it won't be bad for you, it should be discarded.