Rising prices and warnings on tobacco products’ packaging hasn’t derailed the hard-core smoker from continuing with their tobacco use. Now, a small Massachusetts town is stepping up to protest tobacco usage in a surprising way.
The small town of only 7,700 hopes to ban the purchase of tobacco products within their city limits, Boston.com reports. On Wednesday, the public will speak to the Board of Health about the proposition to pass the law. The meeting will be held in a larger building than normal, a school cafeteria, to accommodate the large numbers of citizens wishing to comment on the legislature. If passed, Westminster will be the first to have passed a law of this nature.
The Washington Post reports that the town has had the proposal in the works for some time with the justification that it is inhumane to sell and allow the use of products that have such a high death rate associated with their use.
The board is specifically challenging the tobacco companies’ marketing of products toward teenagers, saying this ban would make it harder for them to get ahold of the harmful substances.
“The tobacco companies are really promoting products to hook young people,’’said town health agent Elizabeth Swedberg. “The board was getting frustrated trying to keep up with this.”
While a majority of the town seems to agree that the ban on tobacco products “has to start somewhere,” not all citizens are thrilled with the proposed ban. Store owner Brian Vincent points out that tobacco sales make up a healthy percentage of his profits. He also fears that business will be driven out of the town, because those who come in to pick up tobacco products also purchase food items while they are there.
‘‘It’s going to send business five minutes this way or five minutes that way — no one’s going to quit,” Vincent said.
Vincent is so opposed to the law that he’s offering customers to sign a petition against the passing of the law. So far, he has 800 signatures.
One customer, Colleen Conner, who signed the petition and is a smoker herself said, ‘‘When you’re a smoker, you'll quit when you’re ready, not because someone told you to.”
She adds that she will drive the 25 minutes to the nearest town and buy her cigarettes in bulk if it comes to that.
The board holds out support for the ban, but they are encouraging public comment at Wednesday’s meeting, which they will keep in mind when voting comes around.