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Chicago City Council bolsters anti-smoking efforts

Big Tobacco took it on the chin Wednesday when Chicago raised its smoking age to 21, outlawed discounts, slapped a $6 million tax on cigars, roll-your-own tobacco and smokeless tobacco and banned chaw altogether at sports stadiums.

On the day after the election, a bleary-eyed city council turned its attention to pocketbook issues, some benefiting consumers, others hitting them smack in the wallet.

With a few minor tweaks, Mayor Rahm Emanuel strengthened a sweeping anti-smoking agenda that has driven the teen smoking rate down to 10.7 percent. The mayor has now set his sights on what he called the "attainable goal" of creating a "tobacco-free generation."

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