Obviously, there's only one reason that people - particularly kids - start smoking. It's because they see cigarettes on store shelves.
At least, that's the logic behind Michael Bloomberg's newest ban proposal for New York City. If people can't see packs of cigarettes, they won't buy them. So, the mayor has decided that he'd like to outlaw shelves of cigarettes in the Big Apple.
"Such displays suggest that smoking is a normal activity," Bloomberg claims. "And they invite young people to experiment with tobacco."
If newly proposed legislation passes, stores will be forced to keep tobacco products out of sight, behind closed doors, or in drawers beneath the counter. Smoke shops will be exempted from compliance.
That means that drug stores, liquor stores, and markets will have their bottom line negatively impacted while stores that cater solely to tobacco buyers won't - something sure to anger the vast majority of shopkeepers in the city.
The new legislation would also prohibit tobacco coupons, ban the sale of discounted tobacco products, establish base-line pricing below which retailers couldn't go, and gives the city the ability to lock down any store that has repeat violations.
All of this is being done, as usual, "for the children."
Of course, it's already illegal to sell cigarettes to children, but hey, what the heck, right? More is better, especially when it comes to laws.
It's being called the "Sensible Tobacco Enforcement" bill, and according to the Mayor, it's patterned after similar laws in Iceland, England, and Ireland. It will be officially introduced Wednesday.
New Yorkers who wish to thank Nanny Bloomberg for protecting them from their own impulses can do so by contacting the Mayor's office.
You can check out more info over at MyFoxNY.com
