On June 1, 2020, the state law prohibiting the sale of all flavored tobacco and vape products, including menthol and mint, goes into effect statewide. Dr. Swannie Jett, Director of the Brookline Department of Public Health, noted “a similar ban has been in effect in Brookline since March 31.”
The statewide ban on the sale of flavored vape products, which was signed into law last November, will extend to traditional tobacco products including, cigarettes, cigars, chew tobacco, spit tobacco, and loose tobacco. Popular brands such as Newport, Kool and Salem menthol are included in the ban. As of June 1, 2020, general tobacco retailers and adult-only retail tobacco stores, cannot sell these products.
In another section of the law, tobacco vendors in all MA towns and cities now are prohibited from selling any tobacco products, including cigarettes, to anyone under 21. Enactment of both sections of the law will standardize tobacco sales throughout the state.
The Commonwealth has established fines for violations of this law; local cities and towns cannot lower these fines. For further information, please call Paula Silverman, Brookline Department of Public Health, 617-730-2333.
