A federal appeals court upheld sensible restrictions adopted by the City of Providence, Rhode Island, that prohibit tobacco companies from using flavoured products and price discounts to attract kids.
A three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit unanimously affirmed a U.S. District Court ruling from December 2012. It upheld ordinances that prohibit the sale of flavoured cigars, smokeless and other non-cigarette tobacco products except in certain adult facilities (flavoured cigarettes are banned by federal law), as well as the prohibition of the use of coupons and multi-pack discounts (e.g., "buy-two-get-one-free") that make tobacco products cheaper and more appealing to kids.
In 2012, the Providence City Council passed these two ordinances.
Tobacco companies, including Philip Morris, R.J. Reynolds and Lorillard sued to prevent the laws from taking effect, arguing that the ordinances violated their First Amendment rights and are also preempted by federal and state law.
Providence became one of the first cities in the nation to adopt such measures when the City Council passed them in February 2012. (pi)