Starting September 1st you will have to be 21 years old to purchase tobacco or nicotine in Williamstown, Massachusetts.A unanimous decision by the Board of Health Monday makes Williamstown the second municipality in Berkshire County to raise the age for tobacco purchases from 18 to 21. Lanesborough’s statute doesn’t go into effect until 2018. Williamstown Board of Health member Dr. Win Stuebner says the board considered studies that showed raising the age above 19 significantly dropped teenage smoking rates.
“At 19 they may still have friends that can buy them the tobacco products, but at 21 that seems to be a little more difficult,” said Stuebner.
More than 60 Massachusetts communities have raised the tobacco purchasing age above 18.
