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Print This StoryCandy-Flavored Real Cigarettes Attracting Teens' Attention
Anti-Smoking Activists Concerned Over Marketing Of Colorful Cigarettes
UPDATED: 9:16 am EST December 3,
2004
PHILADELPHIA -- You've heard of candy cigarettes, but how about real cigarettes with a hint of candy flavor?The new, flavored cigarettes from Camel have anti-tobacco activists up in arms. Many teens seem to like them, and the manufacturers said the brand is in demand.The cigarettes come in flavors like lime, berry, pineapple and coconut. "They're kind of tasty. It sounds like a gimmick for kids, you know. I walk in there, I see the bright colors and I'm, like, 'I need that cigarette,'" said Kenny Silver, 18, a high school senior.
"It's all colorful and really cool and groovy and they look nice and, of course, people automatically think, 'Oh, nice, I want to smoke these now,'" said Hedi Lowe, 18, also a high school senior.The exotic brands are being sold at tobacco shops and gas stations."So, they put them out there with a little color on there to attract people's attention. 'Oh, let me get those, let me try those,'" said Chris Jehova, a clerk at a Sunoco station.Jehova said that the cigarettes are selling fast. That has anti-smoking activists worried. Dr. Sandra Weibel said it is obvious children are the target."I can't imagine adults in any way would want flavored cigarettes," Weibel said.Weibel is the spokeswoman for the American Lung Association. She looked at Camel ads on the computer and said she believes they are marketed for teens."The number of new smokers per day are predominantly kids, and this case, this is who they are attracting, and people who get addicted usually start before they are 21," Weibel said.The flavored cigarettes come with all the same health hazards and addictive potential of any tobacco product.But R.J. Reynolds, the manufacturer of Camel, said:"We don't, under any circumstance, market our product to youth. Our adult consumers asked us and told us they like differentiated products. That is why we offer flavored cigarettes."Tobacco companies in recent months have introduced a slew of new candy and fruit-flavored products with little appeal to established smokers and obvious appeal to new smokers, 90 percent of whom are teenagers or younger, according to TobaccoFreeKids.org. Not only did R.J. Reynolds introduced flavored versions of Camel cigarettes, including coconut and pineapple-flavored Kauai Kolada and citrus- flavored Twista Lime, Brown & Williamson has introduced flavored versions of Kool with names like Caribbean Chill, Midnight Berry, Mocha Taboo and Mintrigue."Ninety percent of smokers start before their 18th birthday -- 90 percent. That means if the tobacco industry doesn't get us while we are young, they will never get us at all," said Walter Kerr, 18, an anti-smoking activist.Anti-tobacco activists are continuing to lobby for Food and Drug Administration regulations of tobacco products and marketing. Legislation came close, but did not pass in Congress this year. A new bill will be introduced in 2005.
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View Ads: New Flavored Cigarettes "It's all colorful and really cool and groovy and they look nice and, of course, people automatically think, 'Oh, nice, I want to smoke these now,'" said Hedi Lowe, 18, also a high school senior.The exotic brands are being sold at tobacco shops and gas stations."So, they put them out there with a little color on there to attract people's attention. 'Oh, let me get those, let me try those,'" said Chris Jehova, a clerk at a Sunoco station.Jehova said that the cigarettes are selling fast. That has anti-smoking activists worried. Dr. Sandra Weibel said it is obvious children are the target."I can't imagine adults in any way would want flavored cigarettes," Weibel said.Weibel is the spokeswoman for the American Lung Association. She looked at Camel ads on the computer and said she believes they are marketed for teens."The number of new smokers per day are predominantly kids, and this case, this is who they are attracting, and people who get addicted usually start before they are 21," Weibel said.The flavored cigarettes come with all the same health hazards and addictive potential of any tobacco product.But R.J. Reynolds, the manufacturer of Camel, said:"We don't, under any circumstance, market our product to youth. Our adult consumers asked us and told us they like differentiated products. That is why we offer flavored cigarettes."Tobacco companies in recent months have introduced a slew of new candy and fruit-flavored products with little appeal to established smokers and obvious appeal to new smokers, 90 percent of whom are teenagers or younger, according to TobaccoFreeKids.org. Not only did R.J. Reynolds introduced flavored versions of Camel cigarettes, including coconut and pineapple-flavored Kauai Kolada and citrus- flavored Twista Lime, Brown & Williamson has introduced flavored versions of Kool with names like Caribbean Chill, Midnight Berry, Mocha Taboo and Mintrigue."Ninety percent of smokers start before their 18th birthday -- 90 percent. That means if the tobacco industry doesn't get us while we are young, they will never get us at all," said Walter Kerr, 18, an anti-smoking activist.Anti-tobacco activists are continuing to lobby for Food and Drug Administration regulations of tobacco products and marketing. Legislation came close, but did not pass in Congress this year. A new bill will be introduced in 2005.
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