Unique city plan to ban all tobacco sales ignites firestorm among residents
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Tired of a “whack-a-mole” approach, as it attempted to restrict the sale of new tobacco products that appeal to young people, the board of health in a Massachusetts town decided to consider banning the sale of tobacco products entirely.
The idea, which Westminster would be the first city in the country to implement if the proposal is approved, ignited a firestorm.
While most residents don’t smoke and many would be happy to see little or no tobacco sold in Westminster, they say that’s not the point, the New York Times (reg. req.) reports.
“I detest smoking and tobacco in all its forms,” town selectman Wayne Walker told the health board. However, he said he and others object to the “unilateral and radical” restriction, which would create an economic hardship on local merchants bypassed in favor of one-stop shopping elsewhere.
Others expressed anger at the curtailment of what they perceive as an individual liberty, and wonder what additional freedoms will next be eliminated.
Nearly 500 of the town’s 7,400 residents attended the board of health hearing last week, which lasted only about 20 minutes before the chairwoman lost control of the crowd and the board left under police protection. The crowd sang “God Bless America” as they departed.
“This ban is going to happen somewhere, sometime,” said Dr. Corey Saltin, a local physician. “But probably not in Westminster.”