US: Tobacco Company Ads Oppose Bills To Tighten NYC Cigarette Sales Rules

Source from:  Daily Politics  07/25/2013

Big Tobacco is pushing back against Mayor Bloomberg's latest effort to tighten cigarette rules.

In Facebook ads and a website, a group sponsored by tobacco giant R.J. Reynolds urges New Yorkers to contact their reps to tell them "we need leaders, not nannies" and that "raising taxes and implementing a ban on the display of tobacco products is a bad idea."

The actual bills pending in the City Council do not hike cigarette tax rates.

They would ban stores from displaying tobacco products, set a minimum price for cigarettes at $10.50 a pack, and fine stores for selling illegal untaxed cigarettes. Another bill would raise the smoking age to 21.

Anti-smoking advocates slammed the ads by the group Transform Tobacco, sponsored by R.J. Reynolds, as dishonest.

"It's one more attempt by the tobacco industry to try to blur reality in their attempts to hook another generation of youth to their deadline products," said Michael Seilback of the American Lung Association. "They have never minded lying."

R.J. Reynolds spokesman Bryan Hatchell defended the ads, saying setting a minimum price for cigarettes will lead to the collection of more taxes.

"We're opposed to higher taxes and excessive bans, and feel like tobacco products are legal products and some of the restrictions being proposed are very heavy handed," he said.

Bloomberg spokeswoman Samantha Levine said "opponents are crying wolf" just like they did when the city banned smoking in restaurants and bars.

"Let big tobacco blow all the smoke they want. These ads will have zero impact on our efforts to protect our city's children and young adults from lethal tobacco products," said Council Speaker Christine Quinn. Enditem