The deal prevented would-be cutthroat competitors from stealing market share by selling cheap cigarettes.

FORBES: Fact and Comment

The mayor also wants to restrict access to cheap and illegal cigarettes.

BBC: New York smoking ban in public places marks 10 years

It applied to beer, cigarettes, soda, chewing gum and other cheap pleasures enjoyed disproportionately by the middle class and the poor.

FORBES: Class Warfare: The Mortal Enemy Of Economic Growth And Jobs

The biggest source of federal revenue throughout the New Deal was the excise tax on beer, cigarettes, soft drinks, chewing gum, radios and other cheap pleasures enjoyed disproportionately by middle class and poor people.

FORBES: Soak-The-Rich Taxes Soak Everyone