Worcester residents had an extra month to weigh in on proposed changes to the city’s tobacco regulations after the Board of Health rescheduled a public hearing originally planned for June.
The Worcester Board of Health announced that its June 15 public hearing on the proposed regulations has been moved to July 13 at 6:30 p.m. at the Worcester Division of Public Health, 25 Meade St. Residents may attend in person or participate virtually.
The proposed changes would update several aspects of Worcester’s tobacco regulations, including retailer requirements, sales restrictions and enforcement provisions. The regulations would also revise rules governing flavored tobacco products and tobacco retail locations.
Among the proposed revisions, flavored tobacco products would be limited to sale and use in smoking bars. Tobacco retailers would also be required to electronically acknowledge that they understand the city’s regulations, are responsible for training employees and can provide documentation upon request from the Board of Health.
The proposal would also modify existing location restrictions. Under the draft regulations, retailers that held a tobacco sales permit within the previous three years could be exempt from Worcester’s 500-foot retail-to-retail buffer requirement. Additional changes would allow tobacco retailers to operate within 500 feet of a smoking bar and permit smoking bars to operate within 500 feet of one another.
Other provisions would require retailers to comply with local and state signage requirements and establish standardized suspension periods and fines for violations.
Residents who wish to comment on the proposal may submit written remarks to the Worcester Division of Public Health by mail or email health@worcesterma.gov. Written comments will be accepted until 6:30 p.m. on June 26 and should include the sender’s name, mailing address and any organizational affiliation.
The public hearing is scheduled for Monday, July 13, at 6:30 p.m. in Conference Room 109 of the Worcester Division of Public Health, 25 Meade St. The meeting will also be available virtually.
The complete text of the proposed regulations is available through the Worcester Division of Public Health and on the city’s website. The Board of Health may revise the proposal before taking final action.
The complete text of the proposed regulations is available through the Worcester Division of Public Health and on the city’s website.
Anyone who wishes to submit data, views, or comments concerning the proposed regulation may do so in writing to Attn: Director, Worcester Division of Public Health, 25 Meade St., Worcester, MA 01610 or email health@worcesterma.gov. Written comments should
include the sender’s name, mailing address, and organization or affiliation, if any. Written comments will be accepted until 6:30 p.m. on July 13. Also, join the meeting virtually by logging on or calling in to 844-621-3956 (access code: 575 614 100#)
