Brookline Health Officials Begin Tobacco Bylaw Outreach

BROOKLINE, MA — Brookline health officials have begun outreach regarding the Brookline bylaw passed by Town Meeting earlier this year, which bans tobacco and vape sales to anyone born after January 1, 2000.

The law, approved by Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey on July 19, went into effect on September 27 and is the first of its kind in the United States. It is really an amendment to Article 14, which bans the sale of tobacco products to minors, and will incrementally increase the number of people who cannot legally purchase tobacco products in Brookline until the law applies to everyone.

"After receiving clarity from the Attorney General's Office, we have begun by conducting educational outreach to businesses in town that sell tobacco products to ensure they are aware of their obligations,” said Interim Health Commissioner Patrick Maloney in a statement. "At this stage, we have prioritized education ahead of enforcement as businesses adapt to this change, but we are also committed to ensuring compliance with these regulations going forward."

According to Maloney, none of the 18 licensed tobacco sellers in Brookline have been cited for violations of the bylaw since it took effect.

"Tobacco is a harmful product to users of all ages, and we have done extensive work as a community to conduct outreach with the goal of preventing youth tobacco use of all kinds, including vaping, smoking cigarettes or using chewing tobacco,” he said.

The Article 14 amendment comes after the town passed a bylaw in 2019 banning the sale of flavored tobacco products, including menthol-flavored products. Both the bylaw and the amendment have been met with a fair amount of opposition for reasons including potential harm to small businesses and concern that the ban will not do enough.

Read more:

• Brookline Law Bans Tobacco, Vape Sales To Anyone Born After 2000
• Brookline's Age-Based Tobacco Ban Goes Into Effect Sept. 27
• Brookline Business Owners Suing Town Over Tobacco Ban