Board of Health Mulls Change to Tobacco Sale Age

Tobacco products may become illegal to purchase in Mansfield by those under 21.

Thursday night, the board of health began their public hearing for changes to the town’s regulations on tobacco and nicotine products. The most notable change is the age regulation that would change the restriction to purchase tobacco and e-cigarettes from 18 to 21.

Supporters for the change cited the health benefits of not smoking and a report from the Institute of Medicine that called the move one that would change lives and could reduce the amount of 15-17-year-old smokers by 25 percent.

Dr. Lester Hartman of Westwood Mansfield Pediatrics said that to raise the age would be to effectively get tobacco products out of the high school, citing a growing trend in e-cigarettes.

Andrew Poirier, who owns Wicked Vaped on North Main Street, said he had no real problems with the regulations aside from the age restriction. According to Poirier, about a 25 percent of his business comes from customers between 18-21.

“If you were to rewind this scenario and this law was passed, we would say we can’t help you but the town line is four miles down the road and come back when you’re 21,” he told the board.

Poirier added that many of his customers use e-cigarettes as a way to quit regular cigarettes, with many choosing to eventually quit vaping.

Other business owners pointed to the decreasing sales in tobacco products. Wayne Smith, who is the manager of Dubb’s Liquor, said he has seen sales of cigarettes at his store decrease from 500 packs a week to just over 30.

With new information in front of them and a desire to refine the draft regulations, the board chose to table the discussion until their next meeting.