HAVERHILL, MA (WBZ-AM) --The City of Haverhill could make it harder for young people to buy tobacco products.
City officials are proposing a numbers of ways to reduce the smoking rate. First they want to raise the legal age to buy tobacco products from 18 to 21.
They also want to cap the number of tobacco retail sites and smoke shops among other restrictions.
City Councilor Colin LePage, tells WBZ NewsRadio1030 that he's all for it and that his city needs the new regulations because the smoking rate is higher than the state average.
He has a teenager who is vaping which makes it personal.
If approved, the age hike would kick in on December 15th. Many areas in the Commonwealth already have similar regulations.
Under a new state law, the tobacco sale age is jumping to 19-years-old on December 31st .Then 20 the following year and 21 in 2020.