NYC Mayor Bloomberg at It Again: Now He Wants to Hide Tobacco Products in Stores

In this Aug. 3, 2010 photo, boxes of cigarettes are seen on shelves in a Brunswick, Maine store. If NYC Mayor Bloomberg's proposal goes through, displays like this would have to be hidden from plain view, unless it is a tobacco specialty shop. (Photo: AP/Pat Wellenbach)

New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg has made quite a name for himself with his proposed regulations -- some have been instituted while others have not -- on trans fats, large sugary drinks, formula baby milk and polystyrene foam (commonly known as Styrofoam), among many others. His latest proposal employs the idea of "out of sight, out of mind" as it seeks to hide tobacco products from plain view at stores.

This proposal would be a first-in-the-nation, aimed at reducing the youth smoking rate. The legislation would require stores to keep tobacco products in cabinets, drawers, under the counter, behind a curtain or in other concealed spots. They could only be visible when an adult is making a purchase or during restocking.

As New York Mag's Daily Intelligencer put it, these are measures that might "[sound] more effective for porn."

Bloomberg said similar prohibitions on displays have been enacted in other countries, including Iceland, Canada, England and Ireland.

"Such displays suggest that smoking is a normal activity," Bloomberg said. "And they invite young people to experiment with tobacco."

Stores devoted primarily to the sale of tobacco products would be exempt from the display ban.

The mayor's office said retail stores could still advertise tobacco products under the legislation.

"We have made tremendous strides in combating smoking in New York City but this leading killer still threatens the health of our children," said Dr. Thomas A. Farley, the health commissioner.

Farley said the city's comprehensive anti-smoking program cut adult smoking rates by nearly a third - from 21.5 percent in 2002 to 14.8 percent in 2011 - but the youth rate has remained flat, at 8.5 percent, since 2007.

Smoking remains the leading preventable cause of death among New Yorkers, Farley said.

The legislation, to be introduced in the City Council on Wednesday, is comprised of two separate bills that Farley called "logical, important next steps to further protect our teens from tobacco."

The second bill, called the "Sensible Tobacco Enforcement" bill, strengthens enforcement of discounted and smuggled cigarettes. It would prohibit the sale of discounted tobacco products, impose packaging requirements on cheap cigars and create a price floor for cigarette packs and small cigars. The city would have the authority to seal premises where there are repeat violations.

The bill would also increase penalties for retailers who evade tobacco taxes or sell tobacco without a license.

Bloomberg has backed a number of public health measures, including a crackdown on large sizes of sugary drinks and adding calorie counts to menus. A judge blocked the drinks ban but the city is appealing.

"People always say, 'Oh, you're doing these health things to raise money,'" Bloomberg said. "No, that is not the reason. We're doing these health things to save lives."

The bill would also prohibit retailers from redeeming coupons for tobacco products.

Here's Bloomberg's announcement (Note: The actual speech begins at 10:00):

Be sure to tune into TheBlaze TV tonight where Glenn Beck will discuss why he considers Bloomberg the "most dangerous man" in the nation.

​The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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