WESTMINSTER, Mass. -- Following a November 12 meeting of the Westminster, Mass., Board of Health on a proposed ban on all tobacco sales that chairperson Andrea Crete cut short amid protests by citizens opposing the ban, the town's retailers have spoken out.
Crete offered the board's rationale in favor of the ban.
"It can be argued that the Board of Health permitting these establishments to sell these dangerous products that, when used as directed, kills 50% of its users, ethically goes against our public health mission," she said, according to a PBS report. "If we can prevent children from having access and exposure to tobacco and nicotine products and reduce the chances of them smoking or using them, then we’ve essentially saved lives."
The board also has said that it wants to keep flavored cigars, electronic cigarettes and other new products away from children.
Brian Vincent owns Vincent's Country Store, a midsized grocery store in Westminster. He said no store in Westminster has ever been cited for selling tobacco to kids, and banning it would cost more than just tobacco sales.
"Most people that buy tobacco will grab a cold drink for the road, maybe scratch tickets, a bag of chips. So it’s not just an $8 sale, it’s a $20 to $30 dollar sale," he told the news outlet. "We're just going to be sending all these sales five minutes down the road to another town where these customers will spend money on gas out of town, food out of town and before you know it, the gas stations are going under in Westminster and other businesses."
Chris Bjurling owns Depot General Store in Westminster. Like a lot of business owners, he supports the local police and kids’ sporting teams. He also employs seven people, several of them full time.
He has calculated that losing the tobacco and related retail sales would cost him roughly two-thirds of the money he uses to pay those employees. And for some of them, these are crucial jobs.
"It becomes very personal--these people are important to me. Lisa has been with me for 18 years. Denise … for 12 to 13 years. For Lisa, I am her entire income. She in fact will lose her house if" this job doesn't exist, Bjurling told PBS.
Click here to read the full PBS report or watch the embedded video for more reaction.
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