The Mansfield, Mass. Board of Health has approved an increase of the minimum age to purchase tobacco and nicotine products from 18 to 21-years-old, a change that will go into effect on Jan. 1. The five member board voted 2-1 in favor, with one member absent and one abstaining from the vote. The vote comes after a public hearing to gauge the public’s feelings about the proposal, which included a presentation by Dr. Lester Hartmann, who has been the main proponent in getting the state to increase the minimum purchase age and has launched a city-by-city campaign since the state legislature has not approved an age increase. He told The Sun Chronicle that Mansfield is the 66th municipality in the state to raise the age to purchase tobacco products. Mansfield is a suburb of Boston, located about 30 miles to the southwest. It has a 2010 population estimate of just over 23,000 residents.
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