An ordinance intended to curb youth smoking has been rejected due to the potential consequences that could occur as a result.

Aldermen of the Chicago City Council have rejected a proposal that was intended to increase the smoking age, put a new tax on smokeless tobacco products and institute a price floor for cigarettes.

According to a report from Chicago Tonight, Mayor Rahm Emanuel introduced the proposal in an attempt to make it more difficult for young people to purchase tobacco products, but aldermen at the City Council Finance Committee meeting rejected the proposal for a number of reasons.

Those who opposed the proposal argued that it would bring about unintended consequences that would hurt convenience stores and drive consumers to make purchases on the black market, away from convenience stores. Many believe that the proposed ordinance would not stop youth from smoking, and that allowing the government to set product price controls can be dangerous. One concern was if the government is allowed to set tobacco price floors for cigarettes because they are unhealthy, what other products would incur price floors because they are considered unhealthy?

The article from Chicago Tonight revealed that the proposal would have instituted a $6 million tax on smokeless tobacco, raised the smoking age to 21 and would have established a minimum price of $11.50 for a pack of cigarettes.