|
Mocha Taboo, Twista Lime, Berry and Apple Blends …kind of
sound like the names of frothy coffee drinks or hard candies, don’t they? But,
they’re actually the names of tobacco products that can be found in stores.
"Candy-flavored
cigarettes clearly have their greatest appeal to new smokers, 90% of whom are teens or
younger."
- Matthew Myers
Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kid |
Tobacco
companies often name and flavor their products things that aren’t usually thought of
with cigarettes or chew.
Berry, apple, peach, mocha, mints, or mixed-drink flavorings are those
used most often.
Matthew Myers, president of the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, says that
"these candy-flavored cigarettes clearly have their greatest appeal to new smokers,
90% of whom are teens or younger. |
Established smokers are unlikely to give up their favorite brands for
these new cigarettes, but kids will be tempted to give them a try and many will get
hooked." (1)
Chewing tobacco has been flavored for a long time; mostly with mint, fruit and vanilla
flavorings. Many cigars are also flavored. Cigarettes didn’t begin to be flavored
until 2000. (2)
Not all of the flavored tobacco products are available everywhere or all of the time.
Many target certain seasons, like the Holidays or Mardi Gras. Others target certain parts
of the country. One brand of cigarettes has been available in more than 45 varieties
… many of which are flavored.
The 1998 Tobacco Master Settlement Agreement says tobacco companies can’t market to
children. Yet, many flavored cigarettes are brightly packaged and feature drawings in
their ads, which appeal to young people. Often, they’re advertised in magazines with
"significant youth readership such as Rolling Stone, Glamour, Cosmopolitan, and
Elle." (3)
In 2004, the U.S. Senate passed legislation to ban candy-flavored cigarettes and give
the U.S. Food and Drug Administration authority to regulate the tobacco industry. The
legislation failed, however, when it didn’t come to a vote in the U.S. House of
Representatives.
Parents need to be aware of these products and discuss them with their children.
It’s also good to know that as long ago as 1972, a tobacco company did research and
noted that "it's a well-known fact that teen-agers like sweet products. Honey might
be considered."(4)
_______________
(1) "Cuddle Up with Cancer: RJR’s Candy-Flavored "Winter Blend"
Cigarettes Show Big Tobacco Hasn’t Changed," Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids
Website, November 16, 2004 (accessed on 3/10/08)
(2) Brodkin, Jon, Metro West Daily News, "Selling candy
to a baby?," January 16, 2005 (accessed on 1/18/05)
(3) Campaign
for Tobacco-Free Kids
(4) September 1972 memo to Brown & Williamson from Marketing Innovations,
"Youth Cigarette – New Concepts." Bates No. 679147057
Addendum: On October 11, 2006, several state attorneys general reached a settlement
with R.J. Reynolds to stop the marketing of candy and alcohol-flavored cigarettes in the
U.S. The agreement does not address candy and alcohol-flavored cigarettes that are sold by
the company overseas and it does not address similar products that are marketed by other
tobacco companies. Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids Statement.
Updated: 5/23/07
For more information, contact:
Tobacco Free Nebraska
P.O. Box 95026
Lincoln, Nebraska 68509-5026
Phone: (402) 471-2101
E-mail: TFN Info |
|
|
