Mansfield May Raise Legal Tobacco Sale Age to 21

Mansfield could be the next town in Massachusetts to raise the legal age to purchase tobacco.

The town announced Thursday morning that the Board of Health will hold a public hearing on June 4 at 7:10 p.m. at Town Hall to amend regulations affecting smoking and the sale, vending, and distribution of tobacco and nicotine products.

If the amendment is approved, the sale of tobacco products to anyone under 21 would be prohibited and a new penalty structure would be created.

The raising of the age to buy tobacco has become more common in Massachusetts. Prior to 2012, Needham was the only community in the country that banned sales to anyone under 21 years old according to the Boston Globe. Currently, over two dozen towns in the state have similar laws.