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The R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company and the Attorneys General of 38 states have entered into a settlement that ends the sale of candy, fruit and alcohol flavored cigarettes manufactured and sold by the company.
Under the settlement, Reynolds agreed to a ban in the United States of its Camel, Kool and Salem flavored cigarettes. The agreement also imposes significant marketing restrictions to prevent Reynolds from marketing a flavored cigarette to youth in the future. The following restrictions apply to any cigarettes manufactured by Reynolds in the future that have a characterizing flavor other than tobacco or menthol:
The name of the cigarette may not be that of a candy, a fruit or an alcoholic beverage, and may not include any of a number of specified terms that evoke imagery of candy, fruit or alcoholic beverages;
Reynolds may not use print advertising, point of sale materials, exterior packaging, or non-age verified direct mail or internet advertising that contain (i) names of a candy, a fruit or an alcoholic beverage, (ii) any of a number of specified terms that evoke imagery of candy, fruit or alcoholic beverages, or (iii) imagery of candy, fruit, sweet desserts or alcoholic beverages; and
Reynolds may not distribute scented promotional materials, such as "Lift and Sniffs" or "Scratch and Sniffs."
The states had asserted that Reynolds was violating the 1998 tobacco Master Settlement Agreement's prohibition on youth targeting through its advertising, marketing and promotion of its flavored cigarettes.
The evidence that led the states to conclude that Reynolds was targeting youth included: use of candy, fruit and alcohol flavors with high youth appeal; use of advertising and packaging with graphics, typography, colors, styles and themes that were enticing to youth; and use of "Scratch and Sniff" and "Lift and Sniff" promotional cards scented with sweet, candy aromas, but with none of the scent of tobacco.
"Selling candy, fruit and sweetened alcohol flavored cigarettes is downright irresponsible, given the appeal of these products to youth. This result reflects a recognition that the Attorneys General, together with the public health community, will not tolerate Reynolds' shameful ploys to introduce our children to smoking and to lure them into a lifetime of addiction to its deadly products," New York's AG Eliot Spitzer said.
The brand styles of flavored cigarettes sold by Reynolds that are banned by the Agreement are: Camel Exotic Blends: Mandarin Mint, Dark Mint, Crema, Izmir Stinger, Twist, Cinnzabar, Mandalay Lime, Aegean Spice, Bayou Blast, Beach Breezer, Margarita Mixer, Midnight Madness, Back Alley Blend, Kauai Kolada, Twista Lime, Winter MochaMint, Warm Winter Toffee, Blackjack Gin, Screwdriver Slots and SnakeEyes Scotch; Salem Silver: Dark Currents, Fire & Ice, Deep Freeze and Cool Myst; and Kool Smooth Fusions: Mintrigue, Mocha Taboo, Midnight Berry and Caribbean Chill.
Joining Attorney General Spitzer in the settlement are the Attorneys General of: Alaska; Arizona; Arkansas; California; Connecticut; Delaware; (No Florida) Hawaii; Idaho; Illinois; Iowa; Kansas; Kentucky; Louisiana; Maine; Maryland; Massachusetts; Michigan; Montana; Nebraska; Nevada; New Hampshire; New Jersey; New Mexico; North Dakota; Ohio; Oklahoma; Oregon; Pennsylvania; Rhode Island; South Carolina; South Dakota; Utah; Vermont; Washington; West Virginia; Wisconsin; and Wyoming. The Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas also joined in the agreement.
The investigation was led by New York and Illinois. 10-11-06
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© 2006 North
Country Gazette
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