For more than a decade New York City has led a historic and successful effort to reduce smoking, driving down smoking rates to historic lows. Despite these efforts, about 950,000 people still smoke and significant disparities persist by education, household income and mental health. One reason why tobacco use is still the number one cause of preventable disease and death in New York City is the overwhelming number of places where tobacco can be legally purchased in the five boroughs. In a new report, the American Cancer Society Cancer Actions Network recommends that New York City should:
• Establish a cap on retail tobacco licenses
• Restrict access near youth-service entities
• Restrict retail outlet proximity to each other
• Restrict all tobacco sales in pharmacies
• Add restrictions on other tobacco products
Corporations and Health Watch 