The nation’s largest cigarette seller has reached an agreement with the Attorney General of Iowa and several other states to help stop the sale of cigarettes on the internet. Bob Brammer, a spokesman for Iowa’s Attorney General, says the agreement is with Philip Morris.
Brammer says they have agreed to punish direct customers if those customers are illegally selling Philip Morris products on the internet. Brammer says this is especially important in keeping cigarettes out of the hands of kids. He says kids are turning more and more to the internet as traditional stores get tougher at checking I-D’s. Brammer says it’s important as most smokers start as kids.
Brammer says this is another piece in the puzzle of stopping internet tobacco sales. He says all the major credit card companies have already agreed to stop processing cards for internet cigarette sales, and he says two major shippers have agreed not to ship cigarettes purchased on the internet. Brammer says the Attorneys General are also talking with other cigarette companies to try and get them to take the same action as Philip Morris.