NYC mayor wants stores to hide cigarettes behind curtains

Ignore the man behind the curtain.  And the packs of cigarettes, too.

In his latest anti-smoking campaign, New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg is poised to introduce a law that would require stores to hide cigarettes behind counters, curtains or cabinets.

Bloomberg, a former smoker himself, says cigarette displays suggest smoking is a normal activity and encourages young people to smoke.

The only time cigarettes could be visible is when an adult is buying them or during restocking.

City Council needs to approve the bill, which will be introduced on Wednesday.

Bloomberg has backed several public health measures recently, including a ban on large sugary drinks and adding calorie counts to menus.  The drink ban was blocked by a judge earlier this month.