NORTHAMPTON — Nicotine pouches will no longer be available for sale inside of Northampton convenience stores starting Jan. 1 following the Board of Health’s approval of the ban.
A proposal banning the sale of oral nicotine pouches like Zyn in some Northampton stores was approved by the Board of Health during their Nov. 21 meeting. The approved proposal will move all nicotine pouch sales to adult stores only.
Prior to the decision, convenience store owners spoke to the board about how their businesses would be hurt by the ban financially as nicotine products are major sources of revenue.
“This would really negatively impact our retailers, and I don’t see what this aims to achieve. If you’re just taking them from one store and putting them into another store,” said Peter Brennan, Executive Director of New England Convenience Store. “Yes, they are nicotine products but as the FDA will say nicotine is not a carcinogen. It may be addictive, but people may enjoy it, and we feel that adults have the right to make their own choices once they achieve the age of 21.”
Owners overwhelmingly condemned the proposal during the virtual public hearing, arguing retailers know the consequences of not following the law and are strict on checking and scanning IDs prior to any purchases of tobacco and that the ban does nothing to combat the sales of these products to people under 21.
“I will stand behind our retailers and our members compliance records and say they’re very good. It does feel like an intentional slight to our retailers, which are essential businesses,” said Brennan. “To take a product from them and the put it into a different retail channel, it does seem unfair to our retailers that are doing their best to comply with every regulation that’s been thrown there way,”
Stephen Helfer from Cambridge Citizens for Smokers Rights added, “Store owners are forbidden to sell to people under 21 and they are penalized if they do so. So, I don’t think there’s a need to add these further restrictions on store owners. Many of them are immigrants of color who put in long hours and have small profit margins. They need every item in their store to keep themselves afloat.”
The Board of Health noted during the meeting that five stores in the city have been caught selling these products to minors in just the last year.
The Board of Health added retailers will be given until Jan. 1 to sell any existing product they may have.
