Burlington businesses scolded for selling tobacco to minors

By Sara Brown, Town Correspondent

The Board of Health Tuesday admonished eight Burlington establishments for selling tobacco to minors, calling the sales "appalling."

According to Sharon Walker Mastenbrook, the Board’s director, the eight establishments—Winn St. Superette, One Stop Mart, the CVS on Middlesex Turnpike, Mobil, Exxon/Cambridge St. Auto, Market Basket on Middlesex Turnpike, Town Grocery, and Texaco, provided tobacco to underage people during a May inspection done by the state. 

Massachusetts state law prohibits selling tobacco products to those under 18.

“There are clear rules not to do that,” Mastenbook told representatives from the businesses, adding that businesses submit signed statements that employees are aware of the law.

“I’m just really disappointed that this happened,” said board vice-chairman Dr. Edward Weiner.   “I’m embarrassed for my own town.  We’ve clearly got to put something better in place.” 

Weiner added that the eight businesses “here before us because (they) sold tobacco to kids” are well-known and visible establishments in Burlington. 

At the meeting, representatives of most of the businesses said they would agree to additional training about tobacco sales to minors.  Some establishments, such as CVS, said they have their own yearly training for employees.

Mastenbrook said the board sent letters to those businesses that did not sell tobacco to minors, thanking them for their compliance.