New York City Council votes to raise cost of cigarettes to $13 a pack, ban pharmacy sales

Crain's New York Business reports:

The New York City Council voted Wednesday to impose new taxes and regulations on an array of tobacco products, to bar their sale in pharmacies and to curb the sale and use of electronic cigarettes.

The package, which has the support of Mayor Bill de Blasio, will raise the price floor on a pack of cigarettes to $13 from $10.50, and smokeless tobacco and shisha packages to $17 from $8. Retailers that sell individual cigars would have to charge at least $8.

The legislation will also establish a new 10% tax on loose tobacco, cigars, cigarillos and tobacco-laced shisha, and direct the revenue toward public housing. Manhattan Councilman Corey Johnson, who sponsored several of the bills, argued the danger of tobacco use justifies the hikes.

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