Cigars, E-Cigarettes Harder to Get in Needham, For Teens

The Needham Board of Health passed two updates to the tobacco regulations in town. The Board issued a press release about these changes: one raises the price of single cigars, the other treats nicotine products as tobacco products.

At the minimum, any cigars sold individually in Needham must be at least $2.50 apiece, or sold in packs of four. The BoH cites recent statistics which show Massachusetts youth is smoking cheap cigars more than packs of cigarettes, and says that a price increase combats those purchases. 

Not all nicotine-containing products were treated the same prior to this update, and it was possible for young people to buy electric cigarettes and other similar devices without identification. Under the new regulations, nicotine delivery products require ID.

“As the majority of current adult smokers began smoking before the age of 18, it is important that the Town of Needham continue  in our efforts to prevent tobacco and nicotine addiction among young people,” said Janice Berns, Needham’s Public Health Director in the press release.

These updates were passed after public hearings on July 11 and 13. Both changes go into effect on July 26, although enforcement of the price change will not start until September. 

In the release, Elizabeth Tanefis, Program Manager of the Metro Boston Tobacco-Free Community Partnership was quoted saying, “Smoking-attributable illnesses cost the Massachusetts health care system $4.3 billion each year, representing 10% of all health care costs in the Commonwealth... Local efforts, like those in Needham, play a key role in preventing MA youth from becoming lifelong smokers,"