NYC to raise minimum price of cigarettes to $13 per pack

Aug. 10 (UPI) -- The New York City Council voted this week to raise the minimum price of a pack of cigarettes to $13, and ban their sales in pharmacies.

New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio personally introduced the plan to city lawmakers in April and is expected to sign the legislation passed by the council on Wednesday, reported the New York Daily News.

The minimum price for a pack of cigarettes in the city is currently $10.50, and the average price is $11.23.

By raising the price even further, city health officials believe more people will stop smoking.

"As bargain cigarettes are forced to increase prices, we speculate that premium brands may increase their prices too to maintain separation from the lower tier of the market," Department of Health spokesman Christopher Miller said.

Nine lawmakers voted against the hike. Councilman Steve Levin, a former smoker, did so because smokers will be hit harder "in the pocketbook."

"I know how difficult it can be to quit and there are a lot of people who would love to quit and are unable to do so," he told Newsday.

The cigarette price hike was one of seven bills passed by city lawmakers aimed at reducing the use of tobacco. There will also be an additional 10 percent tax on all non-cigarette tobacco products, a cap on tobacco retailers, and a rise in the cost for a tobacco-selling license.

Lawmakers are also imposing restrictions on e-cigarettes by requiring a license to sell them and include them in areas where smoking is banned.