EASTHAM- Eastham is the latest town on the Cape to raise the purchase age of tobacco products from 18 to 21.
The new regulations went into effect on September 30 after the Board of Health voted in May.
Yarmouth was the first town on the Cape to raise the purchase age in July of 2014. Brewster passed the increase in July of this year with the change taking effect on September 1.
“I think that we all understand the impact of smoking to youths,” said Eastham Health Agent Jane Crowley. “So this was an attempt to increase the age and limit exposure.”
The new regulations in Eastham have expanded the definition of tobacco to include products that are not tobacco but contain nicotine such as e-cigarettes.
Crowley said a concern at Nauset Regional High School where e-cigarettes fell into a loophole contributed to the new regulations.
“We thought this was a very proactive approach and I think it stands in line with the public health attitude statewide,” Crowley said.”
The regulations also include the sale of blunt wraps, and smoking restrictions have been implemented in workplaces and on town owned property including parks, playgrounds, athletic fields and beaches.
Tobacco cessation products, such as nicotine patches, nicotine gum were not included in the regulations.
The trend of towns raising the smoking age across the state continues, as 73 towns and cities have adopted an age increase to purchase tobacco to 21.
By BRIAN MERCHANT, CapeCod.com NewsCenter
You can go to war and lose your life at age 18 but you can not buy cigs or e cigs doesn’t make sense to me!