Barrington's tobacco ban: 'You have to start somewhere'

New law: People must be 21 to buy tobacco in Barrington

Posted 11/15/17

In Bristol, it's 18.

In Warren, it's 18.

In East Providence, it's 18.

But in Barrington, the minimum age to purchase tobacco is now 21. 

At its meeting earlier this month, the …

This item is available in full to subscribers.

Please log in to continue

Log in

Register to post events


If you'd like to post an event to our calendar, you can create a free account by clicking here.

Note that free accounts do not have access to our subscriber-only content.

Day pass subscribers

Are you a day pass subscriber who needs to log in? Click here to continue.


Barrington's tobacco ban: 'You have to start somewhere'

New law: People must be 21 to buy tobacco in Barrington

Posted

In Bristol, it's 18.

In Warren, it's 18.

In East Providence, it's 18.

But in Barrington, the minimum age to purchase tobacco is now 21. 

At its meeting earlier this month, the Barrington Town Council voted 4-0 to ban the sale of tobacco products to anyone under the age of 21. It was the second time this year the council voted for the ban. Officials initially had a problem when they tried to regulate tobacco sales through licensing, so they recently reworked the legislation and focused instead on the age restriction.

Barrington Town Manager Jim Cunha said he supports the new town ordinance, despite the fact people ages 18 to 21 can still purchase tobacco in all neighboring towns.

"You have to start somewhere," said Mr. Cunha. "You do what you think is right for your community."

Joanne Royley, the student assistance counselor at Barrington High School, supported the town council's decision to change the age restriction for purchasing tobacco in town. She has witnessed an increased use in vaping tobacco products at the high school in recent years, and believes the ordinance will help limit young peoples' access to tobacco.

"I was glad to see it," she said of the new law.

The ban will impact all Barrington stores that sell tobacco — including grocery stores, gas stations and specialty shops. At the Ecig Shed on Maple Avenue, business owner Louis DelSesto said the legislation will hurt his bottom line.

"If I'm forced to turn customers away, customers no other vaporizer specialty shop in the state is required to turn away, it will simply send those customers to an out-of-town store, and will irreparably harm my business goodwill in the process," Mr. DelSesto wrote in a recent letter to the council. "Unlike gas stations and convenience stores, I cannot make up those lost profits by selling other products. This ordinance, as currently proposed, would likely put me out of business."

An additional part of the legislation could, however, serve to benefit Mr. DelSesto's business.

The new ordinance prohibits the sale of all flavored tobacco products except at an electronic smoking device shop. Ecig Shed reportedly qualifies as an electronic smoking device shop, which would allow them to sell flavored tobacco products. 

"There is certainly a balance between supporting local businesses and supporting the health of our community," said Mr. Cunha.

Mr. DelSesto contends that vaping is a healthier alternative to smoking cigarettes, and can be used as a tool to quit smoking. When the council voted through the initial legislation to license the sale of tobacco, Mr. DelSesto countered by filing a lawsuit against the town. The two parties settled.

2024 by East Bay Media Group

Barrington · Bristol · East Providence · Little Compton · Portsmouth · Tiverton · Warren · Westport
Meet our staff
Jim McGaw

A lifelong Portsmouth resident, Jim graduated from Portsmouth High School in 1982 and earned a journalism degree from the University of Rhode Island in 1986. He's worked two different stints at East Bay Newspapers, for a total of 18 years with the company so far. When not running all over town bringing you the news from Portsmouth, Jim listens to lots and lots and lots of music, watches obscure silent films from the '20s and usually has three books going at once. He also loves to cook crazy New Orleans dishes for his wife of 25 years, Michelle, and their two sons, Jake and Max.