A federal court upheld New York City’s ban on use of discount coupons to lower the price of the country’s highest priced cigarettes, the Associated Press said.

Discount coupons have been used for decades, but a city ordinance passed last autumn banned them and set a minimum pack price of USD 10.50 (EUR 7.72) on a pack of 20 cigarettes. The suit challenging the ordinance was brought by the National Association of Tobacco Outlets and another retail group, the AP reported.
Retail groups argued the coupon ban infringed on their constitutional right to free speech in communicating with their customers. US District Court Judge Thomas Griesa ruled the ordinance regulates pricing, not free speech.