7-Eleven and other convenience stores will be banned from selling a popular item starting September 1, with violators facing fines of up to $1,000.
Officials approved new rules after discovering the product was being sold in ways that could appeal to children.
7-Eleven and other convenience stores in Massachusetts will be banned from selling nicotine pouches[/caption]
Local health officials approved new regulations banning flavored and unflavored nicotine pouches[/caption]
The item, nicotine pouches, will now be prohibited in all non-adult-only retail stores.
The move follows discoveries that so-called “unflavored” pouches were being sold with scents and tastes like mint, mocha, chocolate, and spice.
The crackdown applies to Southborough, a town in central Massachusetts about 25 miles west of Boston, where no adult-only tobacco shops exist.
That means gas stations, markets, and chain stores such as 7-Eleven will be unable to sell the products at all.
The decision came after board members tested products from Cordaville Market, including the brand Crave Mega, and found flavors they said were obvious.
Officials said manufacturers’ claims of “no characteristic flavor” did not match what they could smell and taste.
One board member described being shocked at how sweet and candy-like the pouches were, MySouthborough reported.
Dr. Safdar Medina, who also serves as the district physician for local schools, warned that pouches are easy for teens to hide.
“They’re the easiest thing to conceal because it’s just right there,” he said, adding that “within four to six weeks you’re addicted, like for a lifetime.”
The board said it has watched youth vaping decline only to see students now turning to oral nicotine pouches.
They also noted that the products carry no tobacco smell, making it harder for parents to detect use.
Under the new regulations, even so-called unflavored pouches are prohibited, and officials can ban any product they determine has a characterizing flavor.
The rules also increase penalties for violations, raising fines from $300 to $1,000, the same level used in state enforcement.
Industry leaders have pushed back, saying the ban unfairly punishes adult consumers.
Nicotine Sale Ban
- Effective Date: September 1, 2025
- Banned Products: All flavored and unflavored nicotine pouches
- Where: Southborough, Massachusetts
- Who’s Impacted: Convenience stores including 7-Eleven, gas stations, and markets
- Allowed Sellers: Adult-only retail tobacco stores (none currently exist in town)
- Penalty: Up to $1,000 fine for violations
- Reason: Officials say flavored pouches appeal to kids and are easy to hide from parents
The New England Convenience Store and Energy Marketers Association argued the move will create hardship for adult users.
They said nicotine pouches are considered lower-risk alternatives by the FDA and are often used as replacements for cigarettes.
The group also pointed to national surveys showing fewer than 2% of youth report using nicotine pouches.
It claimed removing them from local shelves “does nothing to address under-age use” and only blocks adults from safer products.
A press release urging store owners and residents to object was issued late the night before the hearing, leaving little time to respond.
When the board met the next morning on Zoom, only one member of the public spoke.
With no pushback from stores or residents, the board voted unanimously to adopt the new rules.
The ban takes effect September 1, and without adult-only shops in town, all nicotine pouch sales will effectively be wiped out.
