A New York Association of Grocery Stores representative blamed anti-tobacco policies of Mayor Michael Bloomberg for plummeting legal cigarette sales that have shifted to a thriving black market, the news website Politicker reported.

Legal sales at 42 million cartons when Bloomberg took office in 2001 now are 7 million cartons, said David Schwartz of the store owners association. A drop of that size in the city smoking rate is inconceivable, meaning smokers have switched to illicit product, he reportedly said.
New York retailers are fighting the mayor’s latest anti-tobacco initiative that includes a ban on displaying tobacco products in retail outlets and minimum cigarette prices. Retailers would no longer be allowed to redeem cigarette coupons, according to the Politicker. Schwartz is part of a coalition, Save Our Stores, formed to fight the initiative, the website reported. (ci)