Now, a selectman has proposed the town stop issuing tobacco licenses. It would ultimately ban the sale of tobacco in Bristol.
Banning Cigarette Sales?
Bristol, Vermont – April 12, 2006
Lunch time at the Village Corner Store in Bristol keeps the deli busy. In addition to sandwiches, cigarette sales make up a sizeable portion of the store’s bottom line.
“We deal with several thousand dollars worth of tobacco a week,” says Leon Smith of the Village Corner Store.
And when people buy smokes, they typically purchase other items too.
Now, a selectman has proposed the town stop issuing tobacco licenses. It would ultimately ban the sale of tobacco in Bristol.
Doug Corkins calls it a public health issue.
“It’s more of a symbolic thing, it doesn’t outlaw smoking in Bristol, we’re not going to allow tobacco to be sold in Bristol,” explains Corkins. “The government has said it’s dangerous. Whatever we can do to get kids not to start smoking is a step in the right direction.”
The state reports more than 80 tobacco licenses in Bristol. It should be noted that many licensees don’t actually sell tobacco products. But businesses that do, say a ban could have significant financial impacts.
“It would just be another burden on businesses,” says Smith.
And smokers call it a violation of rights: “It’s my right to buy them if I want to. I’m not a child. I can make those choices for myself. I don’t need my government or people in my community to make those choices for me,” says Marietta Pomainville.
20 minutes south in Middlebury, a similar proposal was considered by the Middlebury Selectboard. The town’s public health officer wants tobacco licensing stopped– also calling it a public health threat. Signs in stores, he says, send a subliminal message that smoking is okay.
Ending tobacco licensing could cost the state. Vermont raked in more than $46 million in cigarette taxes last year. Granted– if banned in Bristol, or Middlebury– smokers would likely drive to other towns to buy cigarettes. But not all.
Corkins says Vermont shouldn’t rely on those tax dollars anyway: “If you want to solve the health care crisis caused by smoking– stop it to begin with, not tax it to get revenue. That’s crazy.”
Before it could happen in Bristol, Corkins needs to convince at least two other selectmen to follow suit. In the mean time, he’s stopped adding his name to tobacco licenses. But those licenses are still being issued, so it will be at least a year if ever before the measure could take effect.
The same goes for Middlebury. A committee is examining the issue and voters will have their say next Town Meeting Day.
Darren Perron – Channel 3 News
