News/Updates 

Nicotine-Free Generation 

On January 21^st, 2025, City Council passed the prohibition of the sale of tobacco and nicotine delivery products to anyone born on or after March 1^st, 2004, in the City of Newton. The ordinance will go into effect starting March 1st, 2025.

The Nicotine-free Generation Ordinance will not impact anyone aged 21 and over is currently able to buy these products legally in Newton. If the purchaser was born before March 1^st 2004, they may be sold tobacco and nicotine delivery products. If they were born on or after March 1^st, 2004, they may NOT be sold tobacco and nicotine delivery products. The birthdate of the purchaser of a tobacco and/or nicotine product must be verified by means of government-issued photographic identification containing the bearer’s date of birth. 

The Nicotine-free Generation ordinance is an important tool in reducing the harm caused by tobacco and nicotine, including smoking-related illnesses such as respiratory and cardiovascular diseases and cancers. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration National Survey on Drug Use and Health, 2014 found that 95% of tobacco users begin before they turn 21 and 99% begin before the age of 26. The 2022 Newton Public Schools Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance data showed that 3% of high school students were currently cigarette smokers and 8% of high school students vaped. 

Other towns in Massachusetts including Brookline, Stoneham, Wakefield, Winchester, Reading, Malden, Melrose, Concord, Chelsea, Belchertown, Needham, and Manchester-by-the-Sea have passed similar bylaws. In 2024, the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court unanimously upheld the Brookline bylaw.

Statewide Mint/Menthol Restrictions

On November 27, 2019, Governor Baker signed into law “An Act Modernizing Tobacco Control.” As of June 1, 2020, the following sections of the state law went into effect. These include:

• Prohibiting the sale of all flavored tobacco and vape products, including menthol and mint (except in certain types of stores prohibited in Newton)

• Imposing an excise tax on the sale of vaping products;

• Requiring that vape product retailers obtain a state license and any required local permit; and

• Requiring that vape product distributors obtain a state license

Get Help to Quit Smoking/Vaping

My Life My Quit: Call or text "Start my Quit: to 855-891-9989 - Reach youth specialists trained to help young people quit by phone or text. Also online at mylifemyquit.com

Aspire: aspire2.mdanderson.org - This free bi-lingual online program will help you learn about being tobacco and nicotine free and provide support to quit

Smoke Free Teen: teen.smokefree.gov - Sign up for text messages and the quitSTART app to help you become smoke free and make healthier choices. You can also speak to experts for advice and resources to quit nicotine.

Make Smoking History: 1-800-QUIT-NOW or makesmokinghistory.org - This free confidential helpline offers specialized coaching by phone to quit tobacco and e-cigarette use.

This is quitting: Text "Vapefreemass" to 88709 - This is a free and confidential texting program for young people who vape. In partnership with the Massachusetts Department of Public Health

Get the facts on e-cigarette use and teens/young adults from the U.S. Surgeon General.

How to Start the Conversation with your teen about not using e-cigarettes.

Check out the new Get Outraged campaign from the Massachusetts Department of Public Health with lots of great information and tips about e-cigarettes.

Information for Newton Tobacco Retailers

Instructions to renew tobacco and nicotine delivery product permits can be found here

As a part of Governor Baker’s “An Act Modernizing Tobacco Control” which took effect June 1, 2020, fines for retail tobacco violations have increased (permit suspensions remain the same).

• First violation: $1000

• Second violation: $2000 and 7-day permit suspension

• Third violation: $5000 and 30-day permit suspension

Newton Tobacco Regulations

Below are a selection of Newton's tobacco regulations. Links to full regulations can be found throughout as well as here.

Information for Prospective Newton Tobacco Retailers 

There are no tobacco sales permits available as the maximum number of permits has been reached. We will not be accepting new permit applications at this time.

If you are acquiring an existing business with a current tobacco sales permit, please review the regulations above and reach out to our office at health@newtonma.gov or 617-796-1420.

Updated 2/22/23

Free viewers are required for some of the attached documents.
They can be downloaded by clicking on the icons below.

Acrobat Reader Windows Media Player Word Viewer Excel Viewer PowerPoint Viewer