SOUTHWICK – On August 4, the Southwick Board of Health passed regulations that denies anyone under the age of 21 in the town of Southwick to purchase tobacco and nicotine delivery products.
As the regulation will be effective starting on October 1, two other crucial aspects to the regulation apply.
The Board of Health voted that E-cigarettes will be added to the definition of nicotine delivery products. In a statement from the Southwick Board of Health on September 1, the exact definition reads, “Any electronic device, not approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration, composed of a mouthpiece, heating element, battery and/or electronic circuits that provides a vapor of liquid nicotine to the user, or relies on vaporization of any liquid or solid nicotine.”
“Nicotine is the drug that we’re trying to get a handle on,” said Tom Fitzgerald, the Board of Health Director for the Town of Southwick.
Products like e-cigars, e-pipes, e-hookah are all part of the e-cigarette definition of this regulation that will apply to anyone under 21 trying to make a purchase in the town of Southwick.
With the State of Mass. not having a youth possession law in terms of tobacco or nicotine products, it is not illegal for someone under 21 to have the product in their possession. It is illegal for a retailer to sell it to underage individuals.
“That’s why we really need to work with retailers to not sell to kids,” said Sarah Mccolgan, who runs the tobacco control for the Mass. Health Office.
Mccolgan believes there is a clear reason why retailers shouldn’t sell nicotine products to kids.
“It’s pretty clear that the brain of an 18-year-old isn’t fully developed,” said Mccolgan.
Southwick Board of Health Director Tom Fitzgerald (center) is seen at a meeting in 2014 talking about smoking issues in town. Fitzgerald has just recently helped pass the regulation for nicotine products. (WNG File Photo)
The jump to 21-years-old is strongly felt that it can help reduce issues that result in people smoking at such a young age.
“By raising the age to 21 (years old) on tobacco products, 20-30 years from now, we will see far less tobacco illnesses,” said Mccolgan. “We have every reason to believe that.”
The new regulations for the Town of Southwick are expected to help deal with the number of vendors in town that offer nicotine products.
According to Southwick’s Board of Health Director, Tom Fitzgerald, there are around 16 nicotine vendors scattered throughout the community of Southwick.
Mccolgan found that Southwick has a nicotine product retailer density of 2.3 per every 1,000 adults. With a town that has a population of just below 10,000, the Statewide average for nicotine product retailer density is 1.48 per every 1,000 adults.
Having the statistics that show Southwick is well above the statewide average, the several retailers in the community will have to follow the proper protocol in order to make sure they don’t face any penalties.
“What really affects the retailer is the permit suspension,” said Mccolgan.
The first violation for a retailer not being in compliance with the regulations will results in a $100 fine. If a second violation happens within 36 months of the first violation, the retailer will then receive a $200 fine and will have their permit suspended for seven consecutive business days.
“That’s when retailers really start taking notice,” said Mccolgan.
A $300 fine is then given to the retailer as well as the permit being suspended for 30 business days if the third violation occurs during that 36-month period.
As the new regulations for the town affect the retailers in the community, Fitzgerald is certain what the main objective is for the regulation.
“The bottom line is we want to reduce smoking as much as possible.”
