New Yorkers wouldn’t even be able to look at cigarettes in bodegas or virtually any other store in the city under an anti-smoking measure unveiled by Nanny Bloomberg yesterday.
The proposed law would make New York the only city in the nation to ban the display of all tobacco products in stores.
“We know out of sight doesn’t always mean out of mind. But in many cases, it can, and we think this will help reduce impulse purchases, and if it does, it will literally save lives,” Mayor Bloomberg said at a press conference with city Health Commissioner Tom Farley.
“This is a big thing,’’ said the health-crusader mayor, appearing as determined as ever after suffering a major setback when a judge struck down his ban on super-size soft drinks last week.
Farley went so far as to insinuate that tobacco executives were drug-pushing murderers.
“Tobacco, when used as intended by its manufacturers, kills about a third of the people who use it,’’ he said.
“That means tobacco companies constantly have to get new young people hooked to their product in order to replace the customers who have died.”
The city’s offensive — which must be approved by the City Council — would require all tobacco products to be “kept in cabinets, drawers, under the counter, behind a curtain or any other concealed location.”
Only speciality smoke shops would be exempt.
The measure also would prevent the sale of single cigars and cigarillos. Instead, smokers would have to shell out for packs of at least four.
And retailers wouldn’t be allowed to sell packs of cigarettes and cigarillos, considered a cheaper alternative to cigarettes, for less than $10.50.
Another provision would prohibit retailers from honoring discount coupons for tobacco items.
The proposal is expected to be introduced tomorrow to the council, where Speaker Christine Quinn says she’s “very open” to it.
City officials insist they are on solid legal ground and noted that Rhode Island last year passed a similar restriction on coupons that was upheld in federal court.
Big Tobacco isn’t about to let the plan proceed without a fight.
“We believe it goes too far,’’ said David Sutton, spokesman for the Altria Group, parent company of Philip Morris USA.
The tiny Rockland County town of Haverstraw knows the power of the tobacco industry.
Mayor Michael Kohut said his village enacted a similar display ban last spring. It was nixed by summer, when seven tobacco groups fought it in federal court.
“When we did our law, I was hoping someone like Mayor Bloomberg would step in to support it,’’ Kohut, 46, told The Post.
Additional reporting by Sally Goldenberg