Massachusetts Generational Tobacco Ban Bill Coming Next Year

In 2018, Massachusetts became the sixth state in the U.S. to raise the minimum age to purchase tobacco products to 21 years old. Next year, it could become the first state to pass a generational tobacco ban.

Per a report from WCVB, Sen. Jason Lewis, D-Winchester; and Rep. Tommy Vitolo, D-Brookline; and Rep. Kate Lipper-Garabedian, D-Malden, plan on introducing bills that would ban anyone born after a specific date from ever purchasing tobacco products in the state. It’s unclear which date the proposed cut-off will be, but the report says that the trio doesn’t plan on taking away the right to purchase tobacco products from anyone who is legally of age. Given the bill won’t be introduced until next year, that would mean a date no earlier than 2004, though it might be 2005.

Massachusetts won’t be the first state to have generational tobacco ban legislation introduced, but it could be the first one to see it pass. The state is already one of the least tobacco-friendly states in the U.S. It has one of the 10 highest state tax rates on cigars and is one of just two states that have successfully banned some flavored tobacco products.

Earlier this year, the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court upheld a local law passed in Brookline, Mass. that banned anyone born after Jan. 1, 2000 from ever purchasing tobacco products and e-cigarettes. That success has created interest from other lawmakers in the state, though as recently as last month, nearby Peabody, Mass. tabled a similar proposal after pushback.

The most prominent attempt at a generational tobacco ban will be back in the news this week. The U.K.’s Parliament will have another reading of the Tobacco and Vapes Bill that could ban anyone born after Jan. 1, 2009 from ever purchasing tobacco and vaping products.