After sharing stories — moving and sometimes personal — about the dangers of smoking, City Councilors voted 19 to four (with one absent), on January 21, to approve a ban on the sale of tobacco and e-cigarette products in Newton to those born after March 1, 2004.
The measure will now go to Mayor Ruthanne Fuller, and if it is approved, Newton will become the 13th municipality in the state, including Needham and Brookline, to have enacted such a ban. The ordinance had previously been recommended by the Programs and Services Committee before the entire Council voted.
“This is a slow phase out,” said Councilor-at-Large Susan Albright. “This is a good step …to make our citizens healthier.”
“The way to keep adults from smoking … is to keep our young people from smoking,” said Councilor-at-Large Victoria Danberg.
However, the four Councilors who voted against the measure criticized it as governmental overreach and infringing on independent choice.
The rule creates “a special class of adults … who will not be able to make a personal, legal decision for themselves,” said Councilor Stephen Farrell.
“I think it erodes trust in local government,” said Councilor David Micley, who instead suggested raising the legal age to purchase tobacco products in Newton to 25.
Describing how depressing it was for him to watch the presidential inauguration of Donald Trump on January 20, Councilor-at-Large Leonard Gentile said that people in the U.S. are sick of governmental bodies like the City Council telling them what to do.
“As a result, we have a buffoon that is running this country again,” said Gentile. “Wokeness – look what it got us.”
Councilors who voted for the ordinance pointed out that smoking is not always a matter of personal choice, since secondhand smoke is so lethal.
Councilor-at-Large Pam Wright shared that she and some of her siblings still suffer from illnesses to this day due to secondhand smoke from her mother’s cigarettes. Wright said her mother became addicted when she was a teenager.
Saying that her sister-in-law also got hooked on tobacco as a teen, Councilor-at-Large Andrea Kelley told attendees that her relative was sick, on oxygen, and possibly dying.
After Councilor-at-Large Tarik Lucas pointed out that tobacco companies market to children even though children are prohibited from smoking, Councilor Julia Malakie agreed, adding, “We’re up against a tobacco industry that is constantly trying to find new customers, or as I would call them, victims.”
In an email, Peter Brennan, executive director of NECSEMA (the New England Convenience Store and Energy Marketers Association), stated the voting results were disappointing.
He previously had stated that his organization was strongly against the ordinance and believes these types of decisions should be made at the state level.
Brennan also stated that the most immediate impact would be on the economic health of the 35 Newton businesses that are licensed to sell tobacco and nicotine products.
