Brookline Law Bans Tobacco, Vape Sales To Anyone Born After 2000

BROOKLINE, MA — Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey has approved a Brookline law banning tobacco and vape sales to anyone born after January 1, 2000, the first law of its kind in the United States.

Local officials voted in favor of the law at a November 2020 special town meeting and have been anticipating approval from Healey, who released her decision on July 19 based on the restriction's consistency with state and federal laws.

Brookline's new law is specifically an amendment to Article 14, which bans the sale of tobacco products to minors. The article now reads, "No person, firm, corporation, establishment, or agency shall sell tobacco or e-cigarette products to anyone born after 1/1/2000."

According to the article's sponsors, the goal of the amendment is to incrementally increase the number of people who cannot legally purchase tobacco products in Brookline until the law applies to everyone.

"In addition to preventing a new generation from being addicted to nicotine – and facing the long-term health issues that come with it – Brookline citizens who smoke will be further motivated to quit as smoking becomes rarer around them," said a statement released by Action on Smoking and Health (ASH) applauding the town's decision.

Despite the favorable vote and approval of the amendment to Article 14, it has been met with some disapproval and concern from residents and town officials, including those who do not feel as though the amendment will make sufficient change.

"I strongly disapprove of the type of age-based differential treatment that will be encoded in our bylaws by WA 14," said Town Meeting Member Marissa Vogt in a Twitter post following the town's vote to approve the amendment. "So I voted no, though I am glad it passed. I would have wholeheartedly supported a full tobacco ban."

The amendment to Article 14 will take effect immediately once the town has satisfied the posting and publishing requirements, said Healey.