Started in a town in Massachusetts
Approved by the state Supreme Court… expected to expand nationwide
“Preventing the negative effects of cigarettes is a long standing tradition”
One American town’s unusual measure to ban the sale of cigarettes to people born in the 21st century is expected to soon spread across the United States.
In 2021, the Massachusetts town of Brookline, next to Boston, with about 60,000 people, implemented a law banning the sale of cigarettes to anyone born after January 1, 2000.
The Associated Press reported on the 12th (local time) that as the state’s highest court finally ruled that Brookline’s measures were legal, it is likely that the measures will be applied as a model for other cities that hope tackling tobacco.
Supporters of Brookline’s tobacco ban said the state law recognizes the ability of communities to implement their own measures to limit the sale of harmful products.
Under a Massachusetts law signed by former Republican Gov. Charlie Baker in 2018, the state already prohibits anyone under the age of 21 from buying any tobacco products, including cigarettes, cigars and e-cigarettes.
Convenience store owners who rely on the sale of tobacco products for a significant portion of their revenue pushed back, arguing that Brookline’s law conflicts with state law.
However, the Massachusetts Supreme Court sided with Brookline, saying, “Massachusetts cities and towns have a long history of regulating tobacco products to curb the well-known harmful health effects of tobacco use.”
“The important thing is that state laws, local ordinances, and bylaws can exist side by side and often do,” the court said, adding, “This is especially true in the case of local ordinances and bylaws.” laws that regulate public health, the importance of which we have long recognised.”
Peter Brennan, executive director of the New England Convenience Store and the Energy Marketers Association, said the association was considering appealing the decision to the Supreme Court.
Other governments are also considering measures similar to Brookline.
In 2022, the New Zealand government will mandate that cigarettes cannot be sold to anyone born on or after January 1, 2009. However, New Zealand’s new prime minister has said he intends to repeal the law.
British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak proposed last year that the legal age at which people can buy cigarettes in the UK should be raised by one year each year, eventually making it illegal for everyone to buy cigarettes.
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