A spokesman for Iowa’s Attorney General says the R-J Reynolds Tobacco Company has agreed to stop targeting kids with the sale of flavored cigarettes. Bob Brammer says the flavored cigarettes were a concern.
Brammer says they alleged that R-J Reynolds had violated the master settlement agreement to not market cigarettes to youth by marketing the cigarettes flavored like candy and with aromas like fruit. Brammer says the agreement keeps the company from pushing the cigarettes to young people.
Brammer says the company isn’t banned from marketing flavored cigarettes, but he says the company is fenced in when it comes to targeting kids. Brammer says keeping cigarettes out of the hands of kids is important. He says it’s “one of the fronts in the battle against tobacco.” Brammer says most people who’re going to get addicted to tobacco begin using tobacco as young people.
Brammer says the company will no longer target youth with candy, fruit and alcohol flavors or use advertising and packaging with graphics, typography, colors, styles and themes that were enticing to youth; and not use “Scratch and Sniff” and “Lift and Sniff” promotional cards scented with sweet, candy aromas, but with none of the scent of tobacco.