The Board of Health will hold a public hearing next month on whether to pass comprehensive new tobacco regulations. The three-member board scheduled the hearing for its Jan. 7 meeting, set to begin at 10 a.m. at the Municipal Building, 355 East Central St. Health Director David McKearney wrote the proposed regulations.
If passed, the controls would reshape how the town handles tobacco sales, raising the legal age to purchase tobacco products to 19 and establishing a tobacco and nicotine delivery products permit, administered by the board. Currently the town does not have a local tobacco permit for businesses, which still must acquire a license from the state Department of Revenue in order to sell cigarettes and other tobacco products.
Largely the board supported the rigorous regulations. However, two members protested increasing the purchase age to 21 — a stipulation included in the first draft of the regulations — and chose 19 as a compromise.
"I think (the age) should stay at 18," Philip Brunelli said, pointing out that if teenagers can go to war at 18, they should have the right to smoke a pack of cigarettes, as well.
Businesses that sell tobacco products would find themselves with a new fee to pay should the regulations pass. In addition to the state license, they would have to pay the board an annual fee of $150 for a local tobacco permit. The board can then make unannounced periodic inspections of the business.
The board also seeks to regulate how businesses sell certain tobacco products. Under the regulations, businesses cannot sell single cigars under $2.50, self-service displays of tobacco products are prohibited and roll-your-own cigarette machines are banned.
In addition, the regulations tighten the town’s rules on smoking in public places. The board intends to bar smoking at so-called hookah bars, membership and association clubs, such as the American Legion, as well as at any town buildings, parks or recreation areas. This includes marijuana and electronic cigarettes.
If passed, the controls would reshape how the town handles tobacco sales, raising the legal age to purchase tobacco products to 19 and establishing a tobacco and nicotine delivery products permit, administered by the board. Currently the town does not have a local tobacco permit for businesses, which still must acquire a license from the state Department of Revenue in order to sell cigarettes and other tobacco products.
Largely the board supported the rigorous regulations. However, two members protested increasing the purchase age to 21 — a stipulation included in the first draft of the regulations — and chose 19 as a compromise.
"I think (the age) should stay at 18," Philip Brunelli said, pointing out that if teenagers can go to war at 18, they should have the right to smoke a pack of cigarettes, as well.
Businesses that sell tobacco products would find themselves with a new fee to pay should the regulations pass. In addition to the state license, they would have to pay the board an annual fee of $150 for a local tobacco permit. The board can then make unannounced periodic inspections of the business.
The board also seeks to regulate how businesses sell certain tobacco products. Under the regulations, businesses cannot sell single cigars under $2.50, self-service displays of tobacco products are prohibited and roll-your-own cigarette machines are banned.
In addition, the regulations tighten the town’s rules on smoking in public places. The board intends to bar smoking at so-called hookah bars, membership and association clubs, such as the American Legion, as well as at any town buildings, parks or recreation areas. This includes marijuana and electronic cigarettes.
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