Hamilton-Wenham Consider Raising Age To Buy Tobacco

Massachusetts is looking to become the third state in the nation to raise the legal age to 21 to purchase tobacco products. Over 100 Massachusetts towns and cities have already passed local ordnances that either restrict the sale of tobacco products or are looking to raise the legal age to buy them.

The Boards of Health in both Hamilton and Wenham have already looked at raising the legal age to buy tobacco, but have taken no further action yet.

Hamilton Health Agent Leslie Whelan said the Board of Health does expect to raise the legal purchasing age to 21 sometime during the summer, as well as completely eliminate the sales of flavored tobacco and nicotine products, including menthol.

Wenham Board of Health Chairman Alyson Preston said that the board had discussed the issue in January, noting that many towns across the state had already passed such bylaws, but the board ultimately decided to wait for a decision at the state level. Preston went on to add to that only one store in Wenham currently sells tobacco.

However, the town measures aren’t without their opposition. The Retailers Association of Massachusetts said they fear the bill will harm its members that sell tobacco.

The state senate voted on April 28 to pass a tobacco omnibus bill that would make the sale of tobacco and nicotine products to anyone under age 21 illegal. The State House is expected to begin debating the tobacco bill in the upcoming months.

Photo courtesy of Luciano Belviso via Flickr