NEEDHAM, Mass. — Federal law clearly states that someone must be 21 years old to buy tobacco or other nicotine-infused products. Some Massachusetts communities are taking restrictions a step further.
Just this month, Needham became the 12th community in the state to grandfather the right to buy cigarettes and other related products.
If a person was born after January 1st, 2004, they will never be able to buy these types of items in Needham.
This is what’s known as a “Nicotine-Free Generation” policy.
“Nicotine and tobacco products aren’t safe in any amount,” explained Timothy McDonald, Director of Health and Human Services in Needham. “They’re the only products, that if used correctly, will kill you.”
Although keeping teens from smoking has been a public health goal over the years, McDonald says young adults are also a vulnerable population.
“The latest data we have from science is that the risk processing centers of the brain aren’t fully developed until 25 or 26.”
Now a pending bill on Beacon Hill would take this so-called Age-Gating approach statewide.
State Representative Tommy Vitolo, D-Brookline, is sponsoring the bill.
“There are a lot of things that we don’t allow residents of Massachusetts to do. We don’t let people purchase fireworks. We don’t let you go into a pharmacy and buy any drug you want.”
In 2020 Brookline was the first community in the country to pass a “Nicotine-Free Generation” by-law.
In Dedham, one man told Boston 25 News he thinks this concept is a great idea. “Anything we can do to limit smoking which is known to be causing cancer in large numbers of people would be a good thing.”
One woman told us simply “Cigarettes are bad for you and can kill you.”
Another woman said she is generally for less government intrusion. She thinks policymakers should focus on more important issues. “Families can watch out for the smoking and the cigarettes.”
Peter Brennan, Executive Director of the New England Convenience Store and Energy Marketers Association, also thinks this concept is an overreach.
He says this approach to curtailing nicotine-based products isn’t effective, hurts small businesses, and threatens personal freedom.
“You can still be opposed to smoking and think this is a scary bill because if you can ban nicotine products for adults, then can you ban alcohol? Can you ban fatty foods, sugary snacks, sugary drinks? What’s next?”
Vitolo counters “If you make a living, in part or in whole, selling these products, you’re not happy about this. I’m not happy that you can make a living selling cancer.”
Massachusetts has been a leader in restricting access to tobacco.
In 2019 the state banned the sale of flavored cigarettes like those containing menthol.
Other communities that have adopted Nicotine-Free Generation bylaws include Concord, Reading, Stoneham, and Winchester.
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