Judge Upholds NYC’s Ban on Using Cigarette Coupons

A federal judge Wednesday upheld a local ban on using coupons to cut New York City’s highest-in-the-country cigarette prices, marking a win for the city in one of its latest anti-smoking efforts.

Barring coupons doesn’t violate cigarette makers’ and sellers’ free-speech rights to communicate with customers, U.S. District Judge Thomas Griesa ruled.

The law “regulates pricing, not speech, and thus, does not violate the First Amendment,” wrote the judge, who also rejected the tobacco industry’s argument that federal and state laws leave no room for the city’s measure.

The city Law Department and anti-smoking advocates hailed the ruling on a measure that helped cap more than a decade of laws and rules designed to discourage lighting up in the nation’s biggest city. During former Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s 12-year tenure, the city imposed the nation’s highest cigarette taxes, barred smoking at bars and even beaches, and voted to raise the minimum tobacco-buying age to 21.

The law, which also includes a $10.50-per-pack minimum, less than cigarettes often cost in the city, passed last fall. Both sides agreed to hold off on its effective date until last month, according to the judge’s ruling. City officials plan to begin contacting retailers soon to alert them to the provisions.

This article appeared in print on page 4 of the June 20th, 2014 edition of Hamodia.