Lung Association: Momentum Growing, Second Supermarket Chain Halts Tobacco Sales

ALBANY, NY (02/08/2008)(readMedia)-- The American Lung Association of New York State commends DeCicco Markets for its commitment to public health and for placing the well-being of its customers above profit by halting sales of cigarettes. DeCicco Markets joins Wegmans Food Markets who announced in January that they would halt the sale of tobacco products. Further, the Lung Association again calls on Governor Spitzer and the New York State legislature to make saving lives a priority by increasing the excise tax on cigarettes in New York State. New York can drastically reduce smoking levels and increase funding for tobacco control programs by enacting an additional $1.50 in the state tobacco excise tax. Raising the tax will not only lead to increased state revenue, but will also create an economic incentive for smokers to quit their deadly addiction.

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