Several city councilors in New Bedford, Massachusetts, are criticizing the mandated increase in cigar prices that are meant to dissuade young smokers, as they are also hurting small businesses. “Minimum cigar pricing” was part of updated tobacco regulations adopted by the Board of Health in October 2024 that went into effect January 1. Councilor Ian Abreu said the fact a cigar that not long ago could have been purchased for $1.25 now costs $2.90 is having a “negative economic impact on our small-business community who retails these products.”
Massachusetts is one of the most progressive states when it comes to the war on tobacco, allowing each of its 351 cities and towns the authority to enforce a range of laws, regulations, and local codes.
Abreu said the feedback from local retailers has been overwhelmingly negative and that cigar sales have plummeted, forcing them to raise the prices of other products.
“These are the unintended consequences that you see when certain legislation and actions like these happen to the small business community here in New Bedford,” Abreu said.
Another problem is that many retailers say they weren’t notified of the changes.
“There was a little bit of government overreach, is what I’m hearing,” Councilor Shawn Oliver said. “Now they’re forced to not only raise prices and exile some of their consumers but also possibly eat some inventory and a loss of money. That doesn’t sound like a city that is pro-business to me.”
Councilors unanimously voted to set up a meeting with health officials and local retailers, as well as a representative of the New England Convenience Store & Energy Marketers Association to discuss the regulations, is what is being called a “noxious environment” for small business.
“As the expression goes, the road to hell was paved with the best of intentions,” Councilor Leo Choquette said. “I don’t understand where the Board of Health thinks it has the right to interfere in the free market or the economy of this area in that regard.
“And now you want to do idiotic things like this to drive business owners out who are trying to get by. It’s ridiculous.”
