In the

United States The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territori ...

, a loosie (or loosey) is a single cigarette that is purchased or sold. The transaction is illegal because cigarettes must be sold in packs of no less than 20" and because of Loosies' potential appeal to children. Loosies are commonly found in low-income areas. The high cost of cigarettes due to increased taxation has been blamed for increased sales of loosies. In 2014,

Eric Garner On July 17, 2014, Eric Garner was killed in the New York City borough of Staten Island after Daniel Pantaleo, a New York City Police Department (NYPD) officer, put him in a prohibited chokehold while arresting him. Video footage of the incide ...

was killed when

NYPD The New York City Police Department (NYPD), officially the City of New York Police Department, established on May 23, 1845, is the primary municipal law enforcement agency within the City of New York, the largest and one of the oldest in ...

officers attempted to arrest him for allegedly selling loosies.

References

Smoking in the United States English-language slang {{retailing-stub