The Middleton, Mass. Board of Health recently approved a number of new regulations regarding the use of tobacco products and electronic cigarettes, including an increase in the minimum age to purchase both products from 18 to 21-years-old.

Among the other changes passed by the board were a new minimum price requirement for cigars of $2.50, and that all packages of two or more cigars be sold for at least $5. Flavored tobacco and e-cigarettes as well as blunt wraps are now restricted to sales in retail tobacco shops where no one under the age of 21 is allowed to enter.

Smoking bars are also now prohibited, though smoking is still allowed in retail tobacco stores as long as no one under 21 is allowed in at any time, the store sells primarily tobacco products, no food items requiring a permit are sold, and the business is housed in a freestanding building with no other occupants or residents.

Restaurants, bars and other businesses holding a food permit will no longer be allowed to allow smoking or the use of e-cigarettes on their outdoor seating areas.

The board is also requiring mandatory identification checks for anyone attempting to purchase tobacco products or e-cigarettes who appears to be under 40-years-old.

The changes go into effect on Oct. 1.

Middleton is home to approximately 9,000 residents and is located approximately 20 miles north of Boston.

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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.