City proposes tobacco sale restrictions
Mint, menthol products would only be available in ‘adult-only’ shops
Health officials are proposing another layer of control on tobacco products by limiting sale of mint and menthol tobacco products to “adult-only” retailers in Boston.
“Teen vaping is an epidemic that is particularly alarming because we know that nicotine use at a young age can have the power to lead to a lifelong dependency. The data is undeniable in showing that these amendments would save lives,” Mayor Martin Walsh said in a statement. “I believe that now is the time to act.”
Under the proposal by the Boston Public Health Commission, nicotine and tobacco products with mint and menthol flavors will be sold only in verified, adult-only tobacco retailers, adding to the restrictions the Board of Health passed in 2015 on other flavored tobacco and nicotine products.
The proposal would also increase retailer ID checking requirements and “restrict the sale of products that attract young people,” according to the mayor’s office.
“Vaping is clearly a major problem,” Irwin Buchwald, medical director of respiratory therapy at Lowell General Hospital, said Wednesday after officials confirmed a sixth person in the U.S. died from lung disease tied to vaping.
“Everyone who’s vaping should immediately stop until we learn what exactly is going on,” Buchwald said.
Nationally, 450 possible cases of severe lung disease associated with e-cigarettes or vaping have been reported to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
In Massachusetts, there have been 10 suspected cases of vaping-related illnesses, according to the Department of Public Health. None of the cases have been confirmed.
Walsh’s announcement comes a day after New York became the first state to ban the sale of flavored e-cigarettes and a week after President Trump said the federal government will act to ban thousands of flavors used in e-cigarettes.
Moving forward, the mayor’s office hold a public hearing on Nov. 7 before the Board of Health votes to approve the amendments, as well as allow comments from the public through Nov. 8.