The board of health in Hull, Massachusetts, is standing by its decision to raise the minimum age for purchasing cigarettes and other tobacco products from 18 to 21.
The board on Tuesday decided to keep the new rules after listening to the concerns of Nick Patel, owner of a convenience store on Nantasket Avenue, that the town ordinance slated to take effect on Jan. 1 would cost him business as younger smokers went to neighboring towns to purchase cigarettes.
The Patriot Ledger reports that Patel urged the board to lower the minimum age to 19, in line with a recent vote by the town of Hingham.
Elsewhere in the region, Scituate and Braintree are among several communities that have voted to raise to 21 the minimum age for tobacco purchases.
Copyright AP - Associated Press
