Tobacco Regulations

Regulations

On December 11, 2008, The Boston Public Health Commission in recognition of the harmful effects of tobacco on vulnerable populations, banned the sale of tobacco products by educational and health care institutions in the city of Boston. The BPHC also banned the sale o blunt wraps to protect, promote and preserve the health and well-being of Boston citizens. more>

Health Care Institutions

Health Care Institutions

According to the regulation, starting from February 9, 2009, no health care institution located in the City of Boston shall sell or cause to be sold tobacco products. Additionally, no retail establishment that operates or has a health care institution within it, such as pharmacy or drug store, shall sell or cause to be sold tobacco products.  

Definitions:

Health care institution: An individual, partnership, association, corporation or trust or any person or group of persons that provides health care services and employs health care providers licensed, or subject to licensing, by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health under M.G.L. c. 112. Health care institution includes hospitals, clinics, health centers, pharmacies, drug stores and doctors’ and dentists’ offices.

Entity: Any single individual, group of individuals, corporation, partnership, institution, employer, association, firm or any other legal entity whether public or private

Tobacco Products: Any substance containing tobacco leaf, including but not limited to cigarettes, cigars, pipe, tobacco, snuff, chewing tobacco and dipping tobacco.

Educational Institutions

As of February 9, 2009, no educational institution located in City of Boston shall sell or cause to be sold tobacco products. This includes all educational institutions as well as any retail establishments that operate on the property of an educational institution.

Definitions:

Educational Institution: Any public or private college, normal school, professional school, scientific or technical institution, university or other institution furnishing a program of higher education.

Entity: Any single individual, group of individuals, corporation, partnership, institution, employer, association, firm or any other legal entity whether public or private

Tobacco Products: Any substance containing tobacco leaf, including but not limited to cigarettes, cigars, pipe, tobacco, snuff, chewing tobacco and dipping tobacco.

Blunt Wraps

Blunt wrap is a cigarette like rolling paper that is thick and dark and usually made of tobacco. Blunt wraps come in flavored varieties and are heavily marked to the youth and often used as drug paraphernalia. In order to protect, promote and preserve the health and well-being of Boston citizens, The Boston Public Health Commission banned the sale of blunt wraps in the city of Boston effective from February 9, 2009.

Blunt Wraps Fact Sheet:

• Similar to cigarette rolling papers but made of tobacco
• Often called “E-Z Rolls”
• Marketed as “for rolling your own cigars” but often used to smoke marijuana
• Popular Brand include: Royal Blunt, Blunt Wrap and True Blunt

Clean Air Works Workplace Smoking Restrictions

• Smoking will not be permitted in hotels, inns, lodging houses, or bed and breakfasts operating in Boston. Smoking rooms will be eliminated;
  
  
• Smoking will not be permitted in outdoor workspaces that are adjacent to indoor workspaces. Examples include restaurant and hotel patios, loading docks, valet parking areas, and unenclosed floors of construction sites;
  
  
• Smoking bars, including hookah bars, will have signage addressing the hazards of smoking and of second hand smoke. No new permits will be issued and existing smoking bars will be allowed to operate for initial period of not more than ten years.

Read the full text of the regulations

Youth Access to Tobacco

Tobacco is one of the leading causes of death in the United States and lung cancer, which has a correlation to smoking, has been the leading cause of cancer among Boston residents. As the majority of all smokers begin smoking as teenagers – according to the 1994 Surgeon General’s report – “Preventing Tobacco Use Among Young People.”  In order to protect the health and well being of the residents of Boston, the Boston Public Health Commission pursuant to its authority and enacted reasonable public health regulations under the provisions of M.G.L. c.111 section 31  that prohibit the sale of tobacco products to persons under  18 years of age.

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Guidelines for Implementation and Enforcement

Enforcement of this Ordinance shall be implemented by the Boston Public Health Commission or its designated agent(s). Any citizen who desires to register a complaint of non-compliance under the Ordinance may do so by contacting the Boston Tobacco Prevention and Control Program at 617-534-4718

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Applying for a Permit to Sell Tobacco

All retailers who sell cigarettes, cigars, or other tobacco products shall hold and maintain valid  “Permit for Location and Sales”  for each location at which tobacco products are sold

Applying for a Tobacco Retailers’ Permit
If you intend to sell tobacco products you must first obtain a City of Boston Permit for Location and Sales of Tobacco Products. To apply for this permit, you must submit the following items to the Boston Tobacco Control Program.

1. Completed Permit Application
   
   
   
2. Signed Retail Establishment Owner/Operator Statement
   
   
   
3. A Copy of your Massachusetts Department of Revenue Retailers License for Sale of Cigarettes (Form CT-3A)
   
   
   
4. Check or money order in the amount of $100.

You may download the required documents and other supporting materials below. If you need further assistance, please call the Boston Public Health Commission Tobacco Control and Prevention Program at 617-534-4718.

Click on the form below to download

Permit Application Checklist

Retail Establishment Owner/Operator Statement

Tobacco Retail Establishment Employee Agreement

Information Regarding Mass DOR License

Permit Application

En Español

Si piensa vender productos tabacaleras, hay que obtener un Permiso para ubicación y venta de productos de tabaco de la Ciudad de Boston. Para aplicar, hay que entregar los siguientes documentos al Boston Tobacco Control Program.

1. Solicitud de Permiso complete
   
2. Declaración de Propietario/Operador de Establecimiento Minorista firmado
   
3. Copia de su Massachusetts Department of Revenue Retailers License for Sale of Cigarettes (Form CT-3A)
   
4. Cheque o giro postal para $100

Baje los documentos para solicitar un Permiso para ubicación y venta de productos de tabaco de la Ciudad de Boston. Si tiene preguntas acerca de la renovación de su permiso, no dude en llamar al BTCP al (617) 534-4718.

Lista de Verificación para Solicitud de Permiso

Declaración de Propietario/Operador de Establecimiento Minorista

Acuerdo con el Empleado de Establecimiento Minorista

Información Sobre la Licencia de DOR

Solicitud de Permiso

Required Store Signage

All retailers who hold the “Permit for Location and Sales” shall be provided updated signage during the permit term.

Click on name to download the new 2009 signs

Pharmacy Warning Sign

Warning Sign

FAQ

Read frequently asked questions about the regulations.

• FAQ: Sale of Tobacco Products
• FAQ: Workplace Restrictions

Data

Since Boston’s Smoke Free Workplace law was enacted in December 2002, there has been conclusive evidence showing that there is no safe level of exposure to tobacco smoke and that Smoke Free Workplace laws have resulted in saved lives.
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