“What we are seeing now with the explosive expansion of vaping products risks reversing decades of gains in reducing youth tobacco use,” said Boston Board of Health Chairman Manny Lopes. “When it comes to local tobacco control, data shows strong policies work. I believe today’s actions take important steps to prevent Boston’s youth from entering into a lifetime of nicotine and tobacco dependency,” he added.
Mint and menthol vaping and tobacco products will from now on be only be sold in verified tobacco retailers, according to the BPHB. This measure precedes the possible statewide ban on menthol and mint-flavored tobacco products, which was passed in the House and will move to the Senate in November.
E-cig restrictions treated with more urgency than tobacco ones
The changes will include strengthening age requirements and restrictions to prevent teen vaping the sale of products that attract young people. Ironically, retailers have until the 1st of June, 2020, to implement flavoured tobacco restrictions, whilst the restrictions of flavoured nicotine products, the safer alternatives, go into effect immediately.
“Mayor Walsh and the Boston Public Health Commission’s dropped the ball on protecting minors and minority communities this evening with the vote to ban menthol tobacco products from convenience stores. It’s up to Governor Baker to endorse responsible policy by rejecting the state’s proposed menthol ban,” said Jonathan Shaer, president of the New England Convenience Store and Energy Marketers Association.
Read Further: Boston Herald
CDC Study: Curiosity (Not Flavours) is the Main Instigator of Teen Vaping
