HomeMy WebLinkAboutCoalition for Responsible Retailing - 4/2016We. comply because we care
Ms. Catherine Memory
Mansfield Town Hall
6 Park Row
Mansfield, MA02048
Dear Ms. Memory,
�
Massachusetts retailers are committed to keeping tobacco out of the hands of minors. Yet, 4 of 5 minors get their
tobacco from sources other than retailers, so we cannot do it alone.
We want to partner with you to implement regulations to effectively reduce minors' access to tobacco. The four
major trade organizations, representing tobacco permit holders throughout Massachusetts, have united together
under the Coalition for Responsible Retailing to pursue adoption of regulations that would help stop the flow of
non -retail sources that provide minors with the vast majority of tobacco. We would like the opportunity to meet
with you to discuss our model regulations and how we think they can impact minors' access to tobacco and
smoking rates in your community.
We are parents, neighbors, and community members who are invested in the prosperity of our communities and
protecting against the illegal sale and use of tobacco products. As local business owners, our members contribute
significantly to the local economy and quality of life in our communities. We are concerned with loopholes in
Massachusetts state and local laws that allow parents and guardians to provide tobacco products to minors in
their care without penalty. There are no laws that hold enabling adults who provide tobacco products to minors
accountable like we see with alcohol. Also, current laws allow minors to share and use tobacco products —
privately or in public - without any repercussions.
We are calling upon local officials to stand with us and pass common sense regulations to help keep tobacco and
nicotine products out of the hands of minors and stop them from using tobacco if they possess it. Our proposal
includes the following provisions:
1. Apply the minimum legal age of purchase for tobacco products to electronic nicotine vapor products.
2. Remove the exception for parents and legal guardians to give tobacco products to their children who are
under the legal age of purchase.
3. Impose a fine on enabling adults that provide tobacco products to persons under the minimum legal sales
age.
574 Boston Road, Billerica, MA 01821.
COALITION for RESPONSIBLE RETAILING
We comply because we care
4. Add language to local regulations that specifically makes it illegal for minors to purchase tobacco
products.
5. Implement civil fines for underage minors in possession of tobacco or nicotine delivery products.
We are confident that closing these loopholes in local and Massachusetts state laws will be effective. The 2014
Journal of School Health reports that 86% of underage smokers get access to tobacco products from sources other
than purchase at retail stores'; It's critical that we tackle this problem of obtaining tobacco through social sources.
In addition, a 2012 Surgeon General study found that "Social influences are among the most robust and consistent
predictors of adolescent smokingi2. The FDA reports a 91.8%compliance rate by retailers in Massachusetts based
on over 200,000 checks nationwide'. Local compliance rates are frequently higher. We will continue to work
hard to do even better. Knowing there are consequences when mistakes are made is important for us, as well as
adults and minors.
We hope you will take swift action so that your community has the most effective tools to fight against tobacco
use by minors. These regulations combined with our continued diligence and compliance with the existing laws
makes us confident our proposal will significantly impact and reduce the use of tobacco by minors. To learn more
about our organization and the facts that support adoption of these regulations please visit
my .responsibleretailin�.com. We will be reaching out in the next couple of weeks to schedule a time that we
can come and present to you.
Sincerely,
I
Stephen Ryan
Executive Director
New England Convenience Store Association
i�oaway Buar,�?'
Thomas Briant
Executive Director
National Association of Tobacco Outlets
Jon Hurst
President
Retailers Association of Massachusetts
Matt LeLacheur
Co -Director
New England Service Station and Auto Repair Assoc.
' Everett Jones S, Caraballo RS. Usual source of cigarettes and alcohol among US high school students. 7 Sch Health.
2014; 84: 493-501.
2 U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. "Social, Environmental, Cognitive, and Genetic Influences on the Use of Tobacco Among Youth" Preventing Tobacco
Use Among Youth and Young Adults: A Report of the Surgeon General. (2012) Pg. 458
3 Food and Drug Administration. "Compliance And Enforcement Report' (2013): Pg. 27.
5/4 Boston Road, Billerica, MA 01821
COALITION -for RESPONSIBLE RETAILING'
We colnlaly because we cure
Summary of Model Regulations
The Coalition for Responsible Retailing (CRR) has endorsed a set of model regulations to be
incorporated into Massachusetts municipalities' tobacco regulations. In summary, the regulations
would do the following:
1. Apply the minimum legal age of purchase for tobacco products to electronic nicotine vapor
products.
2. Remove the exception for parents and legal guardians to give tobacco products to their
children who are under the legal age of purchase,
3. Impose a fine on enabling adults that provide tobacco products to persons under the
minimum legal sales age.
4. Add language to local regulations that specifically makes it illegal for minors to purchase
tobacco products.
S. Implement civil fines for underage minors in possession of tobacco or nicotine delivery
products.
Model Regulations
We are requesting that the local Boards of Health make the following specific amendments to their
existing tobacco regulations:
Amend the minimum legal age definition to include electronic nicotine products.
Also, insert the following sections:
Purchase for or providing tobacco products to minors.
(1) Civil Violation. It shall be unlawful for any individual to purchase any
tobacco product on behalf of, or to give any tobacco product to, any person
under the minimum legal sales age. The terms of this section shall not apply
to an employee who, in the course of their employment and as a part of their
employment duties, sells tobacco products.
(2) Civil Penalty. Any individual who violates subsection (A) shall be liable for a
civil penalty of:
a. [$ ] for the first violation of such subsection by such individual;
576Boston Road, Billerica, Mf1 OIAM.
COALITION for RESPONSIBLE RET II III
We comply because we care
b. [$ ] for the second violation of such subsection by such
individual within [time period]; or
c. [$ ] for the third or a subsequent violation of such subsection by
such individual within [time period].
Purchase or possession of tobacco products by persons under the
minimum legal sales age: use of false identification.
(1) Civil Violation. It shall be unlawful for any person under the minimum legal
sales age to purchase a tobacco product, possess a tobacco product, or to
attempt to purchase or possess a tobacco product. This subdivision shall not
apply to any person under the minimum legal sales age engaged in law
enforcement activity in accordance with enforcement of minimum age laws,
or to any person under the minimum legal sales age who is handling or
transporting a tobacco product under the terms of his or her employment.
(2) Civil Violation. It shall be unlawful for any minor to present or offer to
another individual a purported proof of age which is false, fraudulent or not
actually his or her own proof of age, for the purpose of attempting to purchase
or possess a tobacco product.
(3) Civil Penalty. An individual who violates subsection (1) and/or (2) shall
forfeit any tobacco products and/or forfeit such proof of age in his or her
possession to any law enforcement officer upon request, and/or and such
individual also shall be liable for a civil penalty of:
a. [$ ] and/or [#] hours of community service work for the first
violation of such subsection by such individual;
b. [$_] and/or [#] hours of community service work for the second
violation of such subsection by such individual; or
c. [$ ] and/or [#] hours of community service work for the third or any
subsequent violation of such subsection by such individual.
Develop a Tobacco Awareness Program
(1) In General. On a finding of liability of an individual for a violation
Under the purchase or possession of tobacco products by persons under the legal sales age,
the court shall require such individual to attend a
tobacco awareness and cessation program approved by the
local Board of Health. The court may require the parent or
guardian of such individual to attend the tobacco awareness and
574 Boston Road, Billerica, MA 03.821
COALITION for RESPONSIBLE RETAILING
We comply because we carer
cessation program with that individual. On request, such program
may be taught in languages other than English. If such individual
resides in an area of this state in which access to a tobacco awareness and cessation
program is not readily available, the court shall require
such individual to perform [#] hours of community service in lieu of attending the tobacco
awareness and cessation program.
(2) Violation Expunged From Record. Not later than [#] days after
the date of a finding of liability under Section [#/letter], the individual found liable shall
present to the court, in the manner required by the court, evidence of satisfactory
completion of the tobacco awareness and cessation program, and/or evidence of
the performance of any community service required under this section or the false
identification section. On receipt of the evidence required under this section, the court shall
waive any fine imposed under the false identification section and shall expunge such
individual's record of liability for the violation, whereupon such individual shall be released
from all penalties and disabilities resulting from the violation, except if, after the date of
such release, such individual is subsequently found liable for a violation under the false
identification section, any preceding violation of such sections shall be reinstated in such
individual's record.
W4 no%ton Road, nillotica, MA 01821