Blackstone Board of Health Orders Training, Suspensions After Tobacco Compliance Violations at Two Stores

The Town of Blackstone Board of Health reviewed tobacco compliance inspections and voted to require retailer training and confirm short permit suspensions for two stores after agents found multiple violations, including flavored tobacco products, self-service displays and out-of-package sales.

Jody Briganti, a tobacco control agent with the Tobacco Control Alliance, told the board that an inspection at D and H (listed in the record as DNH Variety) on Jan. 10 found a second violation for offering flavored tobacco products, triggering a $2,000 fine and a three-day permit suspension that had been paused; she said previous violations included a February 7, 2024 retail-education warning for flavored Backwoods cigars and a March 25, 2023 sale to a person under the legal sales age. "On January tenth of this year I conducted a retail education visit at D and H Variety located at 1210 Social Street in Blackstone. At that time I found a violation offering for sale a flavored tobacco product or tobacco product flavor enhancer," Briganti said.

Shuresh Bapattell, who identified himself as the owner of DNH Variety, said he was not personally aware of all prior inspection notes and said clerks sometimes bring new products in: "If I had these papers back in 2024, I would have done it at that time. I have no problem following all the rules and regulations," Bapattell told the board.

The board moved that the owner and clerks complete tobacco retail training organized by the Tobacco Control Alliance within 30 days and that the fine be paid and the store's permit-suspension period be enforced; the motion passed.

At Blackstone Market (202 Main Street), inspector Briganti said a Jan. 10 retail education inspection found an out-of-package sales violation; the record shows this was the store's second violation, carrying a $300 fine and a 14-day permit suspension. Owner Moneel Patel said the infraction involved an employee selling single cigars from a pack after working in another town with different local rules and that he had already paid the fine.

Patel asked the board to reduce the 14-day suspension to one week because he had been out of the country and could not file an appeal on time; the board voted to reduce the suspension to seven days and required the owner and staff to complete tobacco retail training within 30 days.

Nut graf: The board's actions reaffirmed enforcement of local tobacco rules, emphasized retailer education, and used short suspensions alongside fines and mandatory training to address repeated violations.

The board directed its tobacco control agent to coordinate training dates with the owners and said staff would check both stores to confirm prohibited products had been removed and that required signage and suspension notices were posted.

Ending: Officials said they would follow up with inspections and that training would be scheduled within the next 30 days.