ATHOL — Liberty Hall was the site of the Athol Board of Health’s public hearing on raising the age to purchase tobacco to 21. Joan Hamlett, Tobacco control agent for the town personally delivered notice of the hearing to 16 merchants in the area. Massachusetts recently passed a law that raised the age to purchase tobacco products to 21, effective December 31, 2018. Included in the law is a grandfather clause which means anyone who turns 18 by this date can legally still purchase tobacco products.
Anyone who turns 18 on or after January 1, 2019 cannot legally purchase tobacco products. This provision creates a gap until January 1, 2021 where every year tobacco merchants will have to check birth dates to determine who is legal to purchase. This will create a hardship for some retailers who state that lines at check out would be longer and they may lose customers who do not want to wait in line.
Tobacco Control Director, D.J. Wilson from Massachusetts Municipal Association, reported that Needham was the first city to raise the age to 21 in the country. So far, 77 percent of the cities and towns have raised the age to 21 before the December deadline.
George Patel of Country Convenience and Country Smoke Shop stated it would be too confusing to keep track of the age gap and preferred raising the age to 21 directly. Town Manager, Shaun Suhoski stated the police also approve of moving the age to 21 directly, citing it brings better health and safety to our community. Hamlett reported that regional towns are moving toward approving “21 Now” and most retailers are in favor of moving the age to 21 directly. Hamlett made the motion for the town of Athol to raise the age to 21 for the purchase of tobacco products effective December 30, 2018. Norma Purple seconded the motion, and the vote passed unanimously.