“Cigarette sales at Boston drugstores and on college campuses would be banned under sweeping new tobacco control rules likely to win initial approval today from health regulators. The restrictions, which would give Boston among the toughest antismoking laws in the nation, could go into effect early next year. The rules would also stamp out smoking on the patios of restaurants and bars with outside service; tobacco use has been banned inside since 2003. And, after a five-year grace period, the city would shutter cigar bars, swank salons catering to tobacco connoisseurs, which were exempt from the earlier regulation. The measures — opposed by drugstore chains and tobacco companies, which argue that the rules unfairly limit businesses’ right to sell a legal product — place Boston at the vanguard of a campaign to further reduce cigarette smoking, especially among young people and the poor.” [editor’s note: As usual, instead of penalizing unhealthy choices (say, with higher insurance rates?), they would “outlaw” it; how’s that War on (Some) Drugs working, anyway? - SAT] (09/04/08)