The Amherst Town Board will soon be looking at a number of tobacco-related ordinances that could make the town of nearly 125,000 people in western New York home to some of the most restrictive laws in the country.

The moves come in an attempt to restrict tobacco access to youth and prevent residents from becoming addicted to cigarettes and other tobacco products. Among the topics being discussed include an increase in the minimum age to purchase tobacco from 18 to 21, a ban on tobacco sales in pharmacies and within 1,500 feet of schools, a ban on the sale of flavored tobacco and banning the use of electronic cigarettes wherever the use of tobacco products are banned.

“This is not intended to restrict adults from smoking,” said Councilmember Steven D. Sanders to BuffaloNews.com. “This is trying to stop the next generation of smokers from becoming addicted to tobacco products.”

Sanders will be submitting a resolution regarding these issues to the town board on Monday.

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Patrick Lagreid

I strive to capture the essence of a cigar and the people behind them in my work – every cigar you light up is the culmination of the work of countless people and often represents generations of struggle and stories. For me, it’s about so much more than the cigar – it’s about the story behind it, the experience of enjoying the work of artisans and the way that a good cigar can bring people together. In addition to my work with halfwheel, I’m the public address announcer for the Colorado Rockies and Arizona Diamondbacks during spring training, as well as for the Salt River Rafters of the Arizona Fall League, the WNBA's Phoenix Mercury and previously the Arizona Rattlers of the Indoor Football League. I also work in a number of roles for MLB.com, plus I'm a voice over artist. Prior to joining halfwheel, I covered the Phoenix and national cigar scene for Examiner.com, and was an editor for Cigar Snob magazine.