Raising the minimum age to buy tobacco products appears to be the most popular option among new anti-smoking measures under consideration by the Pleasantville Village Board of Trustees. Board members discussed several new possible regulations last night in response to the opening of the Glass Room, a vape shop on Wheeler Avenue.

Earlier this month, the Pleasantville School Board passed a resolution recommending that the Village Board consider several possible new regulations, such as raising the minimum age to purchase tobacco from 18 to 21. Other ideas included preventing vape shops from locating near schools, day cares, and other locations frequented by children. However, that idea appeared to be less favored by Village Board members. Trustee Joseph Stargiotti said that, given Pleasantville’s small size, preventing vape shops from opening near child-related facilities could effectively result in a village-wide ban. “I don’t want exclusionary zoning,” he said.

Maureen Kenney, director of the group POW’R Against Tobacco, offered to send trustees examples of anti-smoking regulations passed by other municipalities in New York. Orange County and New York City are among municipalities that have already raised the minimum age to buy tobacco products to 21. Kenney said raising the minimum age can lower the risk of drug addiction among young people. “It sends an incredibly positive message to the youth and their parents,” she said.

The Village Board is also considering banning smoking in public parks. Stargiotti said he was surprised that such a ban did not yet exist, and suggested that the village attorney begin drafting a law for trustees to consider. Mt. Vernon, Ardsley, and Tarrytown are among Westchester County municipalities that already ban smoking in parks.

The organization Pleasantville Strong is holding a community forum on the risks of e-cigarettes and vaping among teenagers. The forum will take place Wednesday at 7 p.m. at the Pleasantville High School library.