Hawaii And Massachusetts Target Generational Tobacco Bans

[JohnS]

Generational Tobacco Bans have been in the new of late. For example, search our forum and you'll have no issue locating threads relating to the subject in the U.K. right now. The following Cigar Aficionado article discusses proposed bans in Hawaii and Massachusetts. There are also links to sign on-line petition against these proposals.

Hawaii And Massachusetts Target Generational Tobacco Bans

Jan 31, 2025 - By Garrett Rutledge

Photo/Brandon Bourdages/Alamy Stock Photo

Newton’s Laws say an object will not change its present state of motion unless acted on by another force. In many ways, the same can be said for the current state of anti-tobacco legislation across the globe. Generational tobacco bans—prohibitions that would make it illegal for future generations to ever legally purchase a tobacco product—have become an increasingly popular initiative among anti-tobacco policymakers. So far, there hasn’t been much of an adequate force to halt this concerning state of motion. Just recently, Hawaii and Massachusetts proposed state-wide generational tobacco bans, making them the second and third states to do so just this month. 

The idea of generational bans is not new, but it has gained considerable momentum as of late. Indiana proposed such legislation in January, nearly a dozen Massachusetts towns are considering or have already implemented bans and the United Kingdom seems poised to pass a nationwide ban sometime in 2025. That’s not to mention the other national, state and local governing bodies across the globe who have attempted, and failed, generational bans in the last few years. The year 2025 has proved fruitful for this considerably bold policy initiative, with a domino effect that appears to be moving at a blistering pace across the world. 

Earlier this month, Hawaii joined the mix, introducing a bill (SB429) that would make it illegal for anyone born after January 1, 2005, to ever buy, possess or consume tobacco products. Introduced in Hawaii’s State Senate by Senator Karl Rhoads, SB429 passed its first reading on January 16. The bill was recently referred to the Health and Human Services/Commerce and Consumer Protection committees and the Judiciary/Ways and Means committees. There’s no word on when SB429 will be up for a vote again. If passed, the legislation would go into effect on January 1, 2026.

In section one of Hawaii’s SB429, the authors of the bill reference Brookline, Massachusetts (the first town and governing body in America to implement a generational tobacco ban) and the generational tobacco ban bill currently progressing through Parliament in the United Kingdom as justification for introducing their own, statewide measure. This illustrates the influence legislative bodies, whether at the local, state or national level, can have on other governing counterparts, creating a domino effect like we’re currently seeing in regards to generational tobacco ban legislation.   

Hawaii has more anti-tobacco legislation in the works as well. After introducing the ban bill on the 16th, the following day State Senator Chris Lee proposed a piece of legislation (SB1165) that set limits on the amount of nicotine in tobacco products available to the public. Under the proposed legislation, Hawaii’s Department of Health will determine the levels of nicotine allowed for tobacco products and their Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs would then restrict the sale of any tobacco products that exceed the prescribed limits. The bill passed its first reading and has yet to be assigned to a committee. The proposal is quite vague as it presently stands. What exactly it would mean and how it would impact the cigar industry if passed, remains to be seen. Nevertheless, the proposal, especially coming off the heels of the generational ban legislation introduced prior, isn’t a welcomed site for cigar smokers in Hawaii.

Massachusetts is one of the leading states in terms of anti-tobacco legislation and already has at least a dozen townships that have proposed or implemented their own generational tobacco bans. (Photo/Photo/David L. Ryan/The Boston Globe via Getty Images)

In this same time frame, Massachusetts formally introduced matching bills in both its House (HD2372) and Senate (SD1317) that propose a generational tobacco ban for anyone born after January 1, 2006. The bills were brought forth by Representative Tommy Vitolo and State Senator Jason M. Lewis, respectively. As of now, it doesn’t appear that either bill has received committee assignment. If the resolutions pass, the ban would go into effect on January 1, 2027.

The move from Massachusetts legislators comes as no surprise. The two Massachusetts officials who introduced the bills, along with Representative Kate Lipper-Garabedian, announced their intentions to do so at the end of last year. A string of local Massachusetts municipalities began introducing and implementing generational tobacco bans in 2024 after the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court (SJC) upheld a bylaw adopted by the Boston-area town of Brookline that banned the sale of tobacco products to anyone born in the 21st century. Given how quickly, and easily, such bans proliferated across Massachusetts towns, the state seems positioned quite well to be the first in America to reach the finish line in regards to passing a generational tobacco ban into law.

All pieces of legislation are still in the infancy stages, however, so there are steps to be taken and hoops to jump through. If you’d like to get involved in some way, we’ve included a list of linked petitions from Cigar Rights of America and the Premium Cigar Association below.

Hawaii Petitions 

Sign the Cigar Rights of America petition here and the Premium Cigar Association petition here. 

Massachusetts Petitions 

Sign the Cigar Rights of America petition here and the Premium Cigar Association petition here. 

Source: https://www.cigaraficionado.com/article/hawaii-and-massachusetts-target-generational-tobacco-bans

[Tunkat92]

Land of the free………..

[BrightonCorgi]

Signed both petitions for my state! 

[unaslob]

This is just another form of legislative masturbation. There is now way this goes anywhere. It’s ageism.  

[BrightonCorgi]

I don't think it'll pass in Massachusetts. Such a ban could put the "legal weed" legislation into question.  Also opens the door to generational "fill in the blank" ban legislation. 

Why limit it to tobacco? This our chance to form the next generation and save the planet. 😄

[mikejh]

 I can see WA state trying something like this.

[Gonzo-]

I could only imagine if something like this ever passed, it would be repealed once the excluded generation reaches voting age. 

[tbelle7]

Having lived in Concord, Massachusetts for 6 years, I can tell you this is totally on brand for the Commonwealth. Surely, there are no greater issues facing the state at this time.

[ryre]

9 hours ago, BrightonCorgi said:

I don't think it'll pass in Massachusetts. Such a ban could put the "legal weed" legislation into question.  Also opens the door to generational "fill in the blank" ban legislation. 

Why limit it to tobacco? This our chance to form the next generation and save the planet. 😄

Agreed. Way too much revenue from cannabis to do anything that could even remotely lead to jeopardizing it.

[Duxnutz]

Hawaii does some stupid things so might have a chance. Likelihood of enforcement much poorer.