How do we know they are targeting youth? Sweet Temptations One of Big Tobacco’s latest—and most shocking-- attempts to addict youth is the use of candy-flavored cigarettes, cigars, cigarillos and smokeless tobacco. How do we know they are targeting youth?

Lets look at packaging. Look at the colors used to sell this candy Lets look at packaging. Look at the colors used to sell this candy. You do not see those colors in adults products. You see them in candy and kids toys. Now lets take a closer look at the ads for the flavored products. Show the ads and then click to bring up smaller picture of the candy. Have them compare the colors. Tell the story of Hannah – 4 year old chaperone’s child at summit. Running around – not paying attention to what we were doing, but when these adds appeared on screen she stopped. Attracted by the bright colors – turned to her mom and said – “Mommy, I want one of those”. They are targeting kids – no doubt about it.

Kook used the same colors, but put a “cool” twist on it Kook used the same colors, but put a “cool” twist on it. Notice the tatoo-like symbols, the full lips, fish net stockings, seductive eyes… This was one line of Brown and Williamson’s Kool Fusion cigarettes which introduced such flavors as Mocha Taboo, Caribbean Chill, Midnight Berry and Mintrique. Notice the package opens like a book and tells the story of the flavor on the inside of the pack.

A large majority of these products have hit the market since 1998—when tobacco companies signed the Master Settlement Agreement that restricts their ability to outwardly market their product to young people. This slide shows some of the innovative packaging and product design of the flavored products and highlights some of the alcohol flavors which also take advantage of the rise in popularity of gambling culture (celebrity poker, CSI in Las Vegas, the TV Show “Las Vegas”, etc)

Asian mint with buttery aftertaste cocoa and espresso toasted honey Asian mint with buttery aftertaste After being threatened with legal action for knowingly violating the National Settlement agreement by marketing products which clearly targeted kids, the states Attorneys General and R.J. Reynolds reached a settlement which was touted as an “End To The Sale of Flavored Cigarettes”. But this was an inaccurate headline. In reality the company agreed to stop general MARKETING of its flavored cigarette products in the United States only. The settlement DID NOT affect production of flavored cigarettes or overseas marketing of those products AND it did not restrict them from selling flavored cigarettes as long as they were not marketed as such to general audiences. They can still sell them and market them, they just can not call them a “flavor”. However, even that restriction does not apply to their “age restricted” website where they have freely marketed the cigarettes above with the following flavor descriptions. Robust, Mellow, Frost and Infused are not technically “flavors”. These products can be purchased virtually anywhere that other Camels are sold. citrus and sweet apple

RJR sales boost While overall cigarette sales have dropped nationally to their lowest level since 1951, RJR sales have increased in by 9.8% since the introduction of the flavored Camel Blends And I wonder who is responsible for buying all those Twista Lime cigarettes?

At the corner convenience store the cigarettes are an issue, but even more prevalent are flavored cigars, cigarillos (little cigars) and other products. We have seen a steady climb in cigar use among Florida teens in the last several years, and we suspect that the flavored products are part of this increased demand. In addition, these products are sold as “loosies” or individual cigars which can be purchased very cheap. And cigars in Florida have no state tax and a VERY minimal federal tax making this a cheap alternative for the kid who does not have a lot of money.