Burlington Set To Raise Tobacco Purchase Age To 21

BURLINGTON, MA -- The Burlington Board of Health is expected to raise the age to purchase tobacco and non-tobacco nicotine products to 21 from 18 when it meets Tuesday night. The board had been poised to enact new rules in February but held off and formed a subcommittee to make sure it did not unfairly punish local businesses.

Several Massachusetts towns have already raised nicotine purchase ages to 21, while many more have considered new rules to regulate the sale of vaping and electronic cigarette products. Those products, which are not tobacco products, have been shown to appeal to underage users while simultaneously being a means some long-term cigarette smokers have used to quit tobacco.

In a February interview with BCAT cable access television, Board of Health Chairman Dr. Wayne Saltman said "we all thought" the purchase age should be raised to 21.

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Patch file photo.

Dave Copeland can be reached at dave.copeland@patch.com or by calling 617-433-7851. Follow him on Twitter (@CopeWrites) and Facebook (/copewrites).