Modified risk tobacco

The executive director of the New England Convenience Stores and Energy Marketers Association understandably manifests his industry’s concerns regarding aggressive initiatives to address nicotine addiction “Generational tobacco bans shun civil liberties,” (11/06/23).

Alcohol and gambling addiction isn’t easily comparable to nicotine addiction, which sustains the leading cause of preventable death in the world, requires a US surgeon general warning that it causes death and kills even nonsmokers around secondhand smoke.

Industries that profit from tobacco routinely argue that educating consumers is a better approach to decreasing smoking than a generational ban, FDA menthol ban or nicotine reduction mandate. However, other than legally required tobacco harm warnings signage, what smoking harm education is widely visible in convenience stores?

There have been suggestions that convenience stores should have separate displays for FDA modified risk tobacco products and sell at least one FDA approved smoking cessation product. The FDA has authorized very low nicotine cigarettes called VLN from plant biotech company 22nd Century Group and requires “Helps You Smoke Less” on all packs. MRTP tobacco products merit convenience stores support.

Monetarily motivated opposition against efforts to address nicotine addiction is reminiscent of the auto industry initially opposing life saving seat belts and air bags. Public health and safety eventually will prevail over profit concerns. Modified Risk Tobacco Products may prove to be the tobacco industry’s seat belts and air bags.

Devender Coleman

Boston

Generational ban

I read  Peter Brennan’s piece (“Generational tobacco bans shun civil liberties,” 11/06/23), and while I have never smoked any tobacco products and have urged folks to kick the habit, I, like Brennan, am concerned about using the pretext of youth smoking prevention to banning in the Town of Brookline the sale of a legal product ( nicotine) to those who have reached the statewide legal age to purchase such products.

In the Town of Brookline,  a new bylaw has been enacted that bars the sale of such products to folks born on or after Jan.1, 2000. The anti-smoking fanatics believe creating a generational ban will keep our young folk from smoking ever again. Townsfolk are still free to travel, say, to Mission Hill or Allston-Brighton to buy such products.

We still the US Constitution and Bill of Rights to protect us from overbearing governmental rules or edicts. Brookline ‘s use of generational bans clearly violates the 14th amendment’s equal justice under the law. If someone is old enough to purchase a product, no municipality has a right to bar you from purchasing it.

Any public health policy that violates our civil liberties would be a policy I would oppose.

There is ongoing litigation before the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court and I believe, these bans by Brookline and other municipalities will get shut down by the courts.

Stop treating adult citizens like they’re all just a bunch of kids needing to be saved from themselves.

Sal Giarratani

East Boston