The mission of the Worcester Regional Tobacco Control Collaborative (WRTCC) is to promote social change through four main goals: prevent initiation of tobacco use amoung youth; eliminate exposure to environmental tobacco smoke; promote smoking cessation amoung young people and adults; and identify and eliminate tobacco-related disparities in special population groups.
The WRTCC is a collaborative of eighteen Boards of Health in Central Massachusetts, of which Worcester is the lead Board. The City of Worcester's Division of Public Health Tobacco Control Program is responsible for conducting youth access to tobacco compliance checks and point-of-purchase audits of all tobacco retail facilities in Worcester and the cities and towns in the collaborative, namely Auburn, Boylston, Charlton, Dudley, Grafton, Holden, Leicester, Millbury, Northborough, Oxford, Shrewsbury, Spencer, Southbridge, Sturbridge, West Boylston, Webster and Westborough. This collaborative maintains the integrity and autonomy of its Board of Health members while the city provides assistance and guidance in all tobacco related issues.
Massachusetts Law prohibits the sale of any tobacco products to those under the age of 18 years as discussed in M.G.L. Chapter 270, Section 6. Additionally, Massachusetts Attorney General's regulations require retailers to ask for photo identification from anyone attempting to purchase tobacco who appears to be under 27 years of age. The Federal Synar Amendment requires all states to conduct random, unannounced compliance checks with local retailers where underage youth may attempt to purchase tobacco. There is a direct correlation between the rates of youth access and the funding of programs that educate retailers and enforce the law.
The chart below reflects the current fee schedule for the permit types listed. Permit applications and instructions can by downloaded by visiting the Public Health Document Center.
| Permit/Service Type | Fee |
|---|---|
| Sell Tobacco Products | $150 |
| Late Fee | $50 |
The Regulations on Environmental Smoking in Worksites took effect and became available on July 1, 2004. The Massachusetts Smoke-free Workplace Law prohibits smoking in workplaces in order to protect employees and the public from secondhand smoke. This law amends the 1988 Massachusetts Clean Indoor Air Law and prohibits smoking in workplaces including private offices, taxis, restaurants and bars, with only a few exceptions.
