ORANGE — Discussion will drag on regarding whether to ban flavored tobacco products or increase the purchasing age to 21 while the Orange Board of Health awaits more information on the effectiveness of these measures.
Town officials have talked about an amendment limiting the sale of flavored tobacco and vaping products to businesses exclusively for people 18 or older. There are no businesses like this in Orange. Board of Health members met last week for further conversation on the topic and to voice their opinions. All expressed desire to curb youth tobacco use, but some were more reluctant than others to champion the amendment’s cause.
Elizabeth Bouchard said she does not support increasing the minimum tobacco purchasing age to 21. She said if someone is 18 years old — and therefore old enough to drive, vote, work and serve in the military — they should be able to purchase tobacco in Orange. This point was reiterated after Board of Health member Patricia Pierson arrived at the meeting. But Pierson, a nurse who once worked in pediatrics, said smoking can harm the development of the neurological system, which she said finishes developing when a person is about 25 years old.
“I don’t believe that an 18-year-old graduating from high school is … ready to decide whether or not to use tobacco products,” she said, adding that she raised four children. “It’s not a magic wand age — it’s just not.”
Bouchard said she is not particularly interested in making it more difficult for adults to purchase tobacco or in banning flavored products, but rather in devising ways to keep tobacco out of the hands of young people.
“Whether it’s menthol or strawberry,” she said.
Andrea Crete, Orange’s director of health, said increasing the minimum tobacco purchasing age to 21 would be in line with legislation pertaining to alcohol and marijuana. She also said tobacco can be more addictive than heroin.
Board of Health Chairwoman Jane Peirce said she feels anyone should be allowed to purchase and smoke cigarettes if they are old enough to do so.
The town’s tobacco regulations can be viewed at bit.ly/2jm5yD1.
Orange has been collaborating with the Boards of Health Tobacco Control Alliance in Leominster about how to approach the potential new restrictions.
The health board invited the Board of Selectmen to its Aug. 2 meeting to discuss the issue.
Selectmen Walter Herk (who is no longer on the board) and Richard Sheridan said they do not advocate smoking, but they dislike aspects of Orange’s existing tobacco regulations.
The regulations prohibit anyone from selling or distributing tobacco or nicotine delivery products at retail establishments within Orange without first obtaining a Tobacco and Nicotine Delivery Product Sales Permit issued annually by the Orange Board of Health. The town does limit the number of tobacco sales permits to 12 permits and those permits are all being used.
Herk and Sheridan said they see the limits as unfair to businesses. Herk told Wilson he would rather the town allow more permits and fight youth tobacco usage by levying heavy fines against businesses that sell tobacco to minors.
Sheridan said he quit smoking in 1990, but tobacco is a legal product throughout the United States and limiting its sales could hurt local businesses. He said it would only make it more difficult for adults to get tobacco because they would have to travel to neighboring towns for it. Sheridan added smoking should be a personal decision for individual adults.
Peirce said Orange’s population is less than 8,000, and she feels 12 permits is enough for the town.
Crete was Board of Health chairwoman in Westminster a few years ago when the town considered a ban on tobacco sales. The fiery debate made headlines on various media outlets. Crete said the board’s two other members eventually reversed their decision to support a ban, though she did not. She said Orange Board of Health members are not interested in entertaining the idea of a ban, though it is important to remain vigilant in the fight against youth smoking.
“The tobacco companies are constantly coming out with new innovative products geared to hook kids, so I think staying on top of that is important,” she said in her office on Monday. “My job is just to provide (board members) with information so they can make an educated vote.”
You can reach Domenic Poli at: dpoli@recorder.com
or 413-772-0261, ext. 258.
On Twitter: @DomenicPoli