BEGIN:VCALENDAR PRODID;X-RICAL-TZSOURCE=TZINFO:-//com.denhaven2/NONSGML ri_cal gem//EN CALSCALE:GREGORIAN VERSION:2.0 BEGIN:VEVENT DESCRIPTION:The Westwood Board of Health would like to invite residents t o the February Board of Health meeting to provide feedback on two new pr oposed tobacco regulations\, pertaining to the restriction of Tobacco Sa les and to Second-Hand Smoke. \; A public hearing will be held on Tu esday\, February 12\, 2013 at 5:00 pm in the large conference room at th e Carby Street Municipal Office Building\, 50 Carby Street in Westwood. If adopted\, these draft regulations will replace the existing regulatio n entitled\, &ldquo\;Regulation Affecting Smoking and the Sale and Distr ibution of Tobacco in Westwood&rdquo\;.\n&ldquo\;The Board is concerned with the ease in which young people can obtain tobacco and nicotine deli very products\, such as e-cigarettes. \; As a result the Board feels these new regulations will help prevent youth from access and becoming addicted to these harmful products\,&rdquo\; said Health Director Linda Shea.\nBecause their bodies and brains are still developing\, young peop le are especially vulnerable to nicotine addiction and nearly 90% of adu lt smokers started before they were 18 years old. In Massachusetts\, and nationally\, the use of cigarettes among youth has been decreasing but they are using other products at a higher rate. Tobacco companies make n on-cigarette tobacco products\, like single cigars and smokeless tobacco \, appealing to youth through cheap prices and attractive packaging.&nbs p\; These products can get non-smoking youth addicted to nicotine\, crea ting future smokers. \;  \; \;Affordability plays a signific ant role in youth consumption of tobacco products. Prior to this regulat ion\, mini cigars have been available in Westwood for as little as $0.69 each\, making them an inexpensive alternative to buying a pack of cigar ettes. \; Policies that make it more difficult to acquire tobacco an d nicotine products are an important component of preventing youth acces s to these products. \; To combat these statistics\, the Board propo ses to regulate nicotine delivery products\, such as electronic cigarett es and to increase the minimum age to 19 to purchase tobacco and nicotin e products. \;\nIn Westwood\, there is currently no purchase age res triction on products that contain nicotine but not tobacco\, like e-ciga rettes. \; While e-cigarette marketers say their product is a health ier alternative to smoking and that they can be used to help smokers qui t\, e-cigarettes are not approved by the FDA as a tobacco cessation devi ce. \;  \; \; \;The Board of Health proposes to treat e- cigarettes like tobacco products\, including requiring retail establishm ents to obtain a permit to sell them\, prohibiting their use in the work place\, and restricting their sale to adults over the age of 19.\nHighli ghts of Westwood&rsquo\;s proposed Regulation Restricting the Sale of To bacco and Nicotine Delivery Products include the following:\n\nIncreasin g the minimum age to purchase tobacco and nicotine delivery products to 19\;\nRegulating &ldquo\;nicotine delivery products&rdquo\; including el ectronic cigarettes\;\nBanning the sale of blunt wraps and non-residenti al Roll-Your-Own machines\;\nProhibiting the sale of single cigars\; req uiring them to be sold in a package of 4\; \nRequiring vendors to put up signs that lists the MA Quitline phone number\, and a sign regarding th e prohibited usage and sales of e-cigarettes to minors\;\nCapping the nu mber of Board of Health vendor permits to 10. \;\n\nFor more informa tion or to review a copy of the draft regulations\, please visit the Boa rd of Health website at www.townhall.westwood.ma.us or contact the Westw ood Health Department at mrc@townhall.westwood.ma.us.\n \;\n \;\ n \;\n \;\n \;\n \; URL:http://westwood.patch.com/events/proposed-changes-to-tobacco-regulati ons SUMMARY:Proposed Changes To Tobacco Regulations LOCATION:50 Carby St\, Westwood\, MA 02090: 50 Carby St\, Westwood\, MA END:VEVENT END:VCALENDAR