Village Stores Don't Oppose New Cig Proposal

A proposed Suffolk County law aimed at stopping smoking isn't getting opposition from village stores that sell tobacco products but as one store worker notes, the posting of graphic images illustrating the health consequences could ruin consumers' appetites. 

The law, proposed by Legis. Jon Cooper (D-Lloyd Harbor), would mandate that convenience stores, delis and gas stations post the images of body parts damaged by smoking five feet or less from any cigarette advertisements or cash register where tobacco products are purchased.

Lilly Donlon, owner of Nick's Place, a sandwich shop on North Carll Avenue next to the train station, hadn't heard of the proposal but said she would be happy to sell less cigarettes.

"I hate selling them," she said. "Underage kids never come here to buy them because the first thing I do is check identification. When people tell me they want to quit, I won't sell them cigarettes after that."

Donlon claimed she wouldn't even mind if the proposed bill hurt her cigarette sales.

"We just sell them because we always have."

But as one village store worker notes,  it's not just cigarette sales that could be affected.  An employee at the village's Dairy Barn, on Deer Park Avenue, points out food sales could be affected by the unappetizing visuals.

"It could hurt delis, and other places, if someone's going up to the counter to buy a sandwich and they see [the graphic images]."

A public hearing on the proposed law will be held Tuesday, March 8, at 9:30 a.m. at the Suffolk County Legislature building in Riverhead.