Community | March 18, 2013 | 5 comments

NYC Mayor Wants Stores to Hide Cigarettes

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Mayor Bloomberg wants stores throughout New York City to hide cigarettes behind counters, curtains or cabinets as part of his next anti-smoking effort.

"Such displays suggest that smoking is a normal activity, and they invite young people to experiment with tobacco," Bloomberg told reporters Monday.

Stores could still post cigarette ads and prices, the mayor said.

The law would apply to retail stores and requires City Council approval; it will be introduced on Wednesday. A spokeswoman for Council Speaker Christine Quinn said the measure would get a legislative review but added that she supports the goal of the bills.

At least one tobacco maker opposes the legislation.

"We believe it goes too far," David Sutton, a spokesman for Altria, which owns Marlboro-maker Philip Morris, told NBC 4 New York.

Bloomberg, a billionaire former smoker, has made anti-tobacco efforts a major part of his mayoralty and private philanthropy.

Bloomberg banned smoking in bars and restaurants during his first term, a move that was not common at the time. He has also committed $600 million to programs that seek to curb smoking around the world.

City officials said display restrictions are already in place in other countries, including Canada, England, Iceland and Ireland.

http://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/Mayor-Bloomberg-Hide-Cigarettes-Counters-Cu...
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5 comments // NYC Mayor Wants Stores to Hide Cigarettes

  • freecrack
  • northernexpat
    • +5
      northernexpat  

    • Not only are cigarettes hidden under the counter or in a cupboard in Canada, they also have to display signs warning of the dangers of smoking and that no cigarettes will be sold to minors. Also, all advertising for tobacco is banned in Canada. Is there something wrong with that? I don't think so.

    • 2 months ago
  • Leen61
  • HarukoHaruhara
  • Hardytoo
    • +3
      Hardytoo  
    • HarukoHaruhara:

      I was just going to say that. They did it here quite a few years ago - its one of those "out of sight, out of mind" things - especially for kids. Discourages them.
      If someone wants them, they have to ask - many still do, of course.
      We all wondered at first whether or not this would have any effect - and it really has. Sales have plummeted; and with the added "sin taxes" on the products, has lead to massive drop in usage of tobacco products. This is especially true on the Westcoast - we have the lowest numbers of smokers now, and the highest numbers who are physically fit (and lowest obesity rate) in the Country.

    • 2 months ago

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