New legislation proposed by Mayor Michael Bloomberg would require New York City retailers to keep tobacco products out of sight as a means of reducing the youth smoking rate, the Associated Press reports.
The law would force stores to hide tobacco in cabinets, drawers, behind curtains and in other concealed spots, and would mandate they only be visible if an adult made a purchase or during restocking:
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.
Bloomberg stated this would make New York the first city in America to require the hiding of tobacco products. Part of the legislation also calls for increased penalties on the smuggling and illegal sales of cigarettes.
This follows Bloomberg's recent attempt to enact a city-wide ban on the sale of large sugary drinks. That was overturned by a state Supreme Court judge, who called the ban "arbitrary and capricious."