TYNGSBORO -- New Tyngsboro tobacco regulations ban the sale of flavored tobacco in gas stations, a rule that aims to prevent younger crowds from buying the product.
The new rules that the Board of Health passed Monday also define e-cigarettes as a tobacco product, giving them the same restrictions as regular cigars or cigarettes.
Flavored tobacco can now only be sold in tobacco stores and smoking bars -- age-restricted to 18 years or older -- and not in retail stores, including gas stations.
The tobacco regulations, last updated in 2007, address both tobacco sales and smoking prohibitions in public and workplaces.
"You can see the regulation is pretty old," Board of Health Agent Kerri Oun said. "It doesn't include some of the products that are pretty innovative in luring the kids. The flavored products, the e-cigarettes are not under definition in the old regulation."
The new rules now prohibit smoking in smoking bars, retail stores and all hotel rooms, with the smoking ban applying to e-cigarettes, too. State law already prohibits smoking in public places and workplaces.
Powered by a battery, e-cigarettes deliver nicotine in the form of vapor.
Attorney General Maura Healey moved to restrict sales of the electronic product last year, when she filed regulations requiring a minimum age of 18 for the product.
Those regulations also require face-to-face sales for the product, with an exception for vending machines in 18-plus establishments.
Tyngsboro's new rules also prohibit selling packages of cigars for under $5, and forbids the sale of single cigars.
All establishments selling tobacco products must also provide a sign that gives information about how to stop smoking.
The new rules will likely have some impact on the nine permitted tobacco establishments in town.
At the Mobil gas station on Westford Road, just off of Route 3, flavored tobacco and two-cigar packages line the back shelves.
Stephanie Anderson, a shift leader in training at the Mobil station, said pineapple and watermelon are popular flavors.
The impact won't be too big on the store, she said, but will be noticeable, adding that the new rules on cigars will also affect business.
"Given we're right off the highway, we get everybody from lunch, and a lot of construction guys like to buy cigars versus regular tobacco products," Anderson said.
Follow Amelia on Twitter and Tout @AmeliaPakHarvey.
CHANGES IN THE NEW TYNGSBORO'S NEW TOBACCO POLICY
* Defines electronic cigarettes and cigars as "tobacco products."
* "The owner or other person in charge of a shop or other place used to sell tobacco products at retail shall conspicuously post signage provided by the Board that discloses current referral information about smoking cessation."
* "No person shall sell or distribute or cause to be sold or distributed any flavored tobacco product at retail, except in retail tobacco stores and smoking bars."
* "No person shall sell or distribute blunt wraps..." (Bunt wrap is defined as "any tobacco product manufactured or packaged as a wrap or as a hollow tube made wholly or in part from tobacco that is designed or intended to be filled by the consumer with loose tobacco or other fillers.")
* Smoking is prohibited in smoking bars and retail tobacco stores.
* E-cigarettes are prohibited wherever smoking is prohibited.
* "A Tobacco Sales permit shall not be issued to any new applicant for a retail location within 500 feet of a public or private elementary or secondary school" (with certain measuring guidelines).
Resource: http://www.lowellsun.com/todaysheadlines/ci_29399166/tyngsboro-passes-new-tobacco-laws
The new rules that the Board of Health passed Monday also define e-cigarettes as a tobacco product, giving them the same restrictions as regular cigars or cigarettes.
Flavored tobacco can now only be sold in tobacco stores and smoking bars -- age-restricted to 18 years or older -- and not in retail stores, including gas stations.
The tobacco regulations, last updated in 2007, address both tobacco sales and smoking prohibitions in public and workplaces.
"You can see the regulation is pretty old," Board of Health Agent Kerri Oun said. "It doesn't include some of the products that are pretty innovative in luring the kids. The flavored products, the e-cigarettes are not under definition in the old regulation."
The new rules now prohibit smoking in smoking bars, retail stores and all hotel rooms, with the smoking ban applying to e-cigarettes, too. State law already prohibits smoking in public places and workplaces.
Powered by a battery, e-cigarettes deliver nicotine in the form of vapor.
Attorney General Maura Healey moved to restrict sales of the electronic product last year, when she filed regulations requiring a minimum age of 18 for the product.
Those regulations also require face-to-face sales for the product, with an exception for vending machines in 18-plus establishments.
Tyngsboro's new rules also prohibit selling packages of cigars for under $5, and forbids the sale of single cigars.
All establishments selling tobacco products must also provide a sign that gives information about how to stop smoking.
The new rules will likely have some impact on the nine permitted tobacco establishments in town.
At the Mobil gas station on Westford Road, just off of Route 3, flavored tobacco and two-cigar packages line the back shelves.
Stephanie Anderson, a shift leader in training at the Mobil station, said pineapple and watermelon are popular flavors.
The impact won't be too big on the store, she said, but will be noticeable, adding that the new rules on cigars will also affect business.
"Given we're right off the highway, we get everybody from lunch, and a lot of construction guys like to buy cigars versus regular tobacco products," Anderson said.
Follow Amelia on Twitter and Tout @AmeliaPakHarvey.
CHANGES IN THE NEW TYNGSBORO'S NEW TOBACCO POLICY
* Defines electronic cigarettes and cigars as "tobacco products."
* "The owner or other person in charge of a shop or other place used to sell tobacco products at retail shall conspicuously post signage provided by the Board that discloses current referral information about smoking cessation."
* "No person shall sell or distribute or cause to be sold or distributed any flavored tobacco product at retail, except in retail tobacco stores and smoking bars."
* "No person shall sell or distribute blunt wraps..." (Bunt wrap is defined as "any tobacco product manufactured or packaged as a wrap or as a hollow tube made wholly or in part from tobacco that is designed or intended to be filled by the consumer with loose tobacco or other fillers.")
* Smoking is prohibited in smoking bars and retail tobacco stores.
* E-cigarettes are prohibited wherever smoking is prohibited.
* "A Tobacco Sales permit shall not be issued to any new applicant for a retail location within 500 feet of a public or private elementary or secondary school" (with certain measuring guidelines).
Resource: http://www.lowellsun.com/todaysheadlines/ci_29399166/tyngsboro-passes-new-tobacco-laws
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