BOSTON — Gov. Charlie Baker signed H4486, An Act protecting youth from the health risks of tobacco and nicotine addiction, on Friday that will raise the legal age to buy tobacco products statewide from 18 to 21.

 

According to advocacy group Tobacco21, this makes Massachusetts the first state to enact legislation raising the age for sales of tobacco products. The law goes into effect beginning next year. 

 

The bill also broadens existing prohibitions on public smoking to include e-cigarettes, and prohibits the use of tobacco products on the grounds of any public or private primary, secondary, or vocational school. Additionally, the new law will prohibit the sale of tobacco products by any pharmacy, hospital, or other entity that offers health care services or that employs any licensed health care providers.

 

"Raising the age to buy tobacco products in the commonwealth is an important step to prevent addiction for young people and encourage healthy choices," said Baker in a statement. "We appreciate the Legislature's collaboration to pass this bill that will limit the purchasing of cigarettes and other harmful products for those under 21 to support long-term health for the next generation."

 

Some communities in the Berkshires have already enacted local measures to reduce or limit smoking and prohibit sales of tobacco products to those under the age of 21. Adams banned sales effective Feb. 1, 2017, and North Adams did it in August 2016. In all, more than half the state's 351 communities have instituted age limits on purchasing the tobacco products.

 

Northern Berkshire Community Coalition's NB21 initiative has found that use of tobacco products, particularly e-cigarettes, starts as early as the eighth grade in Northern Berkshire. Teenagers participating in its annual health survey last year reported that nearly 30 percent in Grade 12 had used an e-cigarette within the past 30 days and more than 10 percent had smoked a cigarette. 

 

"Tobacco and nicotine addiction remain a leading cause of preventable death and illness in Massachusetts," said Health and Human Services Secretary Marylou Sudders. "Today's actions support our continued efforts to develop comprehensive approaches to reduce the health and economic burden of tobacco use by preventing young people from starting to smoke, helping current smokers to quit, protecting children and adults from secondhand smoke, and identifying and eliminating tobacco-related health disparities."