Policy Issue

Policy Watch: New Regulations on Flavored Tobacco Products Effective June 1st

Decision from 2019 comes into effect

May 14, 2020

In November of last year, Governor Charlie Baker signed into law an act restricting the sale of flavored vaping products in an effort to limit youth exposure to these tobacco products. Flavored e-cigarette products have been sold only in licensed smoking bars since late 2019 as a result. But beginning June 1, 2020, all flavored tobacco products, including menthol products, cigars, and combustible cigarettes, will be added to that restriction and sold only in licensed smoking bars for on-site consumption. Products without added flavor can continue to be sold in gas stations, tobacco stores, and other retailers. A breakdown of what products can be sold where is available from the state's website.

A 2004 state law allowed cigar bars to be exempted from smoke-free policies, but as of February 2019, 11 MetroWest municipalities – home to about half of the region’s population - had removed that exemption.

Learn more about the restriction here.

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