Tobacco Sales to Minors 'Greatly Reduced' in 2013

City efforts to reduce the sales of tobacco and related products to minors have yielded "encouraging results," the Malden Board of Health reported this week. 

Such sales have "greatly decreased" since the board passed new rules last December, including a sales ban in pharmacies, hookah bars and new regulations for cigar packaging and pricing. 

As of February 1, cigars sold in Malden have a minimum price of $2.50 plus tax - much higher than the earlier sale price of 50 to 80 cents, a move aimed at dissuading minors from buying the cheaper tobacco alternatives. 

Last year, 33 out of 66 stores were discovered selling to minors during board inspections.

This year only 3 of 64 stories inspected engaged in the practice. 

Two of these Malden operations, Linden Convenience on Lynn Street and Malden Mini-Mart on Main Street are reportedly repeat offenders and had their permits to sell tobacco products suspended for seven days.

Additional violations would result in a permanent revocation of their tobacco sales permit.  

"The reduction of tobacco use by all people, young and old, is a basic tenet to health living, lower health care costs and reducing premature death," Board Chairman Dr. Kunwar Singh wrote in an email. "We are pleased with this progress." 

What do you think about the city's tobacco regulations?