The Watertown Tobacco Control Program consists of enforcing the Board of Health Smoking in the Workplace Regulation and the Sale of Tobacco Products to Minors Regulation. These regulations were adopted to prevent hazards caused by second hand smoke inhalation and to prevent youth from becoming potential life long smokers.

On April 29, 1999 the Watertown Board of Health unanimously passed a law making tobacco less accessible to minors (those under 18). This new law includes but is not limited to provisions that require all tobacco vendors to receive a permit before selling tobacco products, that all store employees must check the age of a purchaser of tobacco by reviewing government issued identification, and that specific warning signs are posted. The regulations also declare the fine schedule for violators.

To enforce these regulations the Watertown Health Department conducts tobacco compliance checks by sending minors into a tobacco product vendor in an attempt to purchase tobacco products. Violators are fined according to the schedule indentified in the regulations and are required to attend a tobacco retailer education training conducted by the Health Department.

To prevent future sales to minors the Health Department conducts a voluntarry annual tobacco retailer education training informing them of provisions of the regulation and the rationale of the program.

To view a report about the latest round of tobacco compliance checks please read this artice from the Watertown Tab writen on June 11, 2009.

A state law enacted on July 5, 2004 banned smoking in all workplaces in Massachusetts. This law has been set forth to protect workers from health hazards resulting from exposure to secondhand smoke. For more information, please visit the State smoke-free workplace law website

If you have a complaint regarding violations of the Youth Access Regulations or the Smoking in the Workplace regulations please contact the Health Department.