Anti-smoking groups and now the NY Dept. of Health are trying to pressure supermarkets to stop selling tobacco products. The state has even gone so far as to take out full page ads in newspapers asking the supermarkets to take tobacco off of their shelves.
First off, is this right?
Second, is this a legitimate use of government?
Third, is this a responsible use of taxpayer money?
I say no to all three. The last two are no-brainers, but the first point is a little bit more grey. Here’s my perspective:
A supermarket is in the business of selling goods to consumers. If consumers buy tobacco products, the supermarkets are going to sell tobacco products. That’s a free market economy. Supply and demand. Should anybody, especially the state government, try to manipulate and rule the market simply because they are morally opposed to something?
No, of course not. That is not how the free market works. It is a horrible abuse of power and is not something that any business should have to contend with. Market forces should rule the sale of tobacco products – not personal agendas and certainly not an interfering government agency. The state of New York is way out of line here.
But that’s just my views on the subject.
Filed under: Freedom, anti insanity, choices | Tagged: new york, smoking, supermarket tobacco sales, tobacco
