The new ban would outlaw flavored cigarillos like these. (photo by Stephen Nessen)

NEW YORK, NY October 14, 2009 —New York has become the first major city to ban the sale of flavored tobacco products. The city council approved a ban this afternoon 46-to-1.

According to Michelle Bonin of the American Cancer Society overall cigarette smoking is down, but the fruit and candy-flavored smokes are still popular with kids. "We are starting to see the rise of other tobacco products. Smokeless tobacco use is on the rise. The number of youth who are smoking only cigars tripled between the years of 2001 and 2007. So that is troubling," says Bonin.

The mayor supports the bill.