Bloomberg’s latest anti-smoking push would require stores to hide cigarettes

[Warpy]

3. Bar owners here screamed bloody murder

when smoking was banned in indoor public places, no exceptions. However, they're still in business and still doing well, so I imagine the sourpusses who stayed home so they could chainsmoke while getting plastered had their places at the bar taken by non smokers who never went out because they couldn't stand air so thick with cigarette smoke it was practically solid.

I'm one of those people. I never even went out to eat when there were smoking sections in restaurants, the heavy smoke always made me want to puke and that's not a good appetite stimulant. Now I go once in a while when I don't want to cook and it's great, I can taste the food unseasoned by exhaled Marlboro.

I doubt hiding the butts will cut down on smoking but they should already be behind the counter where kids can't steal them. I doubt the advertising has much of an effect on people unless they're already addicted and favor a particular brand.

I think if Bloomberg really tried, he could find better work to do. Once you've protected public health by improving indoor air quality, your job is pretty much done in that department. Anything else is likely to cause resentment and have the opposite effect.