WORCESTER – The City of Worcester Board of Health voted to adopt modifications to tobacco regulations in the city on Monday, July 13, primarily related to locations where the city may issue a tobacco sales permit and the locations of smoking bars.
The regulations became an issue in August when the board of health rejected a smoking bar application from Noamesco Bar & Lounge at 43 Pleasant St. The board of health cited the regulations it modified on Monday in rejecting the application.
According to comments by city councilors earlier this year, Noamesco invested in air filtration equipment based on suggestions from city employees before applying for the permit.
According to the Board of Health, tobacco regulations in the city now include:
- Exemption to the 500-foot retail-to-retail buffer for locations that held a Retail Tobacco Product Sales Permit within the prior three years as of the effective date.
- Updated density restrictions allowing Retailer to operate within 500 feet of a Smoking Bar and allow Smoking Bars to operate within 500 feet of one another.
The board of health also added additional provisions to city regulations:
- Tobacco retailers must comply with applicable local and state signage requirements.
- Flavored tobacco products may only be sold and used in Smoking Bars.
- Tobacco retailers to electronically acknowledge that they understand the regulations and are responsible for informing and training employees and required to furnish documentation upon request of Board of Health.
