Wilmington Board of Health Makes Drastic Changes To Town’s Smoking Regulations

WILMINGTON, MA — The Wilmington Board of Health made a couple of drastic changes to the town’s smoking and tobacco regulations at their meeting last week.

A notice recently posted on the Town’s Health Department’s website provides a summary:

“At a duly posted hearing held on Tuesday, July 21, 2015 at 5:30 p.m. at the Wilmington Town hall, 121 Glen Road, Wilmington Ma, the Wilmington Board of Health amended Section 8 of the Board of Health regulations, smoking and tobacco products.  The amended regulations include policies that restrict the sale of tobacco products, raising the minimum sales age from 18 years of age to 21 years of age and adding definitions.  The new regulations will go into effect November 1, 2015.”

Prior to the meeting, Wilmington Director of Public Health Shelly Newhouse told the Wilmington Apple:

“Wilmington is looking to join a growing list of Massachusetts cities and towns to raise the minimum age to buy tobacco and nicotine products from 18 to 21.   65 other Massachusetts communities have taken action to raise the legal age, with 20 more about to follow trend.  A few have raised the age to purchase tobacco products to 19, but most set the age at 21. Local boards of health are empowered to set regulations concerning tobacco sales and use.  By increasing the age the Board of Health hopes that this will likely prevent or delay initiation of tobacco use by adolescents and young adults. The earlier people start smoking, the more likely it is to become a habit. We want to try and stop this trend.”

According to the Wilmington Patch, the Board also voted last week to ban tobacco sales in Wilmington drug stores. While CVS stopped selling tobacco products in 2014, Rite Aid still does.

The Board also made a change to the definition of “smoking” so that e-cigarettes won’t be allowed anywhere and everywhere smoking is prohibited.

Residents can read the revised regulations HERE. Change are in red.

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