In explaining the policy change, Samantha Levine, a spokeswoman for Mr. Bloomberg, said the mayor has supported a number of initiatives that he had not supported before, such as requiring stores to remove cigarettes from public view, in hopes of further cutting youth smoking.

WSJ: City to Raise Age Limit On Tobacco Sales

Large shops and supermarkets must remove cigarettes and other tobacco products from view by December this year.

BBC: Cigarettes on display