Adams Increases Age for Tobacco Sales to 21
ADAMS, Mass. — The Board of Health has banned the selling of tobacco products to those under the age of 21 in town and updated its regulations.
The board heard no opposition to its proposals during a public hearing on Tuesday night and voted to put the new regulations in effect on Feb. 1, 2017.
"Any products containing, made or derived from tobacco or nicotine that is intended for human consumption, smoked, chewed, absorbed, dissolved, inhaled, snorted, sniffed or injected by any means … will not be sold to anyone under the legal age of 21," Chairman Bruce Shepley said before he read through the specifics of the new regulation.
The Board of Health started the process earlier this year with the help of the Tri-Town Health Department to overhaul the current regulations and update language.
Over the past few months, the Board of Health tweaked the regulations and enforcement to better fit the town of Adams.
During public comment, the only voices on the regulation were in support.
"We are wholeheartedly in support of tobacco 21," Joyce Brewer, contract manager with Tobacco-Free Community Partnership, said. "We all know that most people start smoking before they are 18 … and they are very susceptible to getting hooked on nicotine so we are in support of tobacco 21 and its acceptance by Adams."
Adams is the latest in a growing number of Berkshire communities that have set 21 as the minimum age to buy tobacco products. North Adams changed its regulations in April; Williamstown and Pittsfield also instituted tougher regulations as a deterrent to teen smoking in 2014.
Tags: board of health, tobacco regulations,
