Arlington to Increase Tobacco Purchasing Age to 21

For Immediate Release

Tuesday, June 23, 2015

Contact: John Guilfoil
Phone: 617-993-0003
Email: john@jgpr.net

Contact: Jessica Sacco
Phone:978-769-5193
Email: jessica@jgpr.net

Arlington to Increase Tobacco Purchasing Age to 21
Final Phase in Three-Year Step-Up Plan Takes Effect July 1

ARLINGTON — Acting Director of Health and Human Services James Feeney announces that the Town of Arlington will raise the minimum legal age to purchase tobacco and nicotine delivery products to 21 on July 1, the final phase in a three-year step-up plan that began in 2013.

“We know that the earlier people start smoking, the more likely it is to become a habit. We want to stop this trend,” Feeney said. “Communities throughout the Commonwealth are making this important change, and with Arlington coming on board, we hope to further prevent teenagers and young adults from traveling across city and town lines to purchase tobacco and nicotine delivery products.”

Arlington hopes to experience similar results to those seen in Needham after the town raised its purchasing age to 21 in 2005. As a result, smoking rates among students decreased by almost 50 percent in the first five years of the new law and have continued to drop ever since.

This is the last phase of a three-step plan to raise the purchasing age in Arlington. In May 2013, the Board of Health adopted a new regulation restricting the sale of tobacco products and nicotine delivery products, which outlined a procedure to gradually increase the age to buy tobacco and nicotine delivery products. In July 2013, it was increased to 19, and to 20 by July 2014.

The Regulation also banned the sale of tobacco products at health care institutions and pharmacies, decreasing the current number of tobacco sales permits in Arlington to 19 businesses.

###