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11-19-2009 |
NOT FOR SALE: Big Tobacco’s Sweet Tooth for Addiction
 Did you know that the tobacco companies are continuing to fool our children into getting hooked on tobacco at an early age? All of the tobacco companies are making tobacco products with cool and tasty favors and with vibrant colors to draw our children’s attention. Here is a list of a few of the products on the shelves:
- RJ Reynolds, who formerly used cartoon character Joe Camel to market their products, has a new line of flavored Camel cigarettes with names like Twista’ Lime, and seasonal flavored cigarettes like Bayou Blast Mardi Gras Berry Blend.
- Kool cigarettes now come in a special version called Smooth Fusion. The Smooth Fusions’ range in flavor from Caribbean Chill, Midnight Berry, Mintrigue and Mocha Taboo.
- Several brands of seasonal Camel cigarettes are named to reflect alcohol flavors like Margarita Mixer and Beach Breezer.
- U.S. Smokeless Tobacco Company has been marketing and selling chew with flavors including apple blend, peach blend, berry blend, cherry, vanilla, mint and wintergreen.
Are we going to stand back and let these tobacco companies hurt our children and youth? The next time you are in a store look around and see all the favors of tobacco. This year the Wakulla County Health Department – Tobacco Prevention program/SWAT (Students Working Against Tobacco) will be working toward getting these products removed or placed behind the counters at the local stores. If you have any questions please contact Tonya Hobby at 926-2558, ext 154. LOOK FOR MORE INFORMATION TO COME YOUR WAY!
This information originally published on November 19, 2009.
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The Camel specialty blends and the Kool Smooth Fusion blends that are referenced in the article above are no longer sold in stores, and have not been available for several years now.
R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company discontinued the sale of Kool Smooth Fusion products in October 2004, and all Camel specialty blends in August 2006.
Additionally, a provision of FDA regulation that took effect as of Sept. 22, 2009, bans the sale of all cigarettes with a characterizing flavor. R.J. Reynolds is compliant with this new federal law since the company does not manufacture any products that have a characterizing flavor as that term is used in the new federal law.
It is a guiding principle and belief at R.J. Reynolds that minors should never use tobacco products. Every state prohibits the sale of tobacco products to minors. Numerous programs operated at the national, state and local level – both publicly and privately financed – are focused on preventing youth from using tobacco products.
Additionally, R.J. Reynolds launched its Right Decisions, Right Now (RDRN) youth tobacco prevention program for schools in 1991. Since that time, the program has focused on providing supplemental teaching materials for middle- and junior-high schools, including instructional units for teachers, classroom posters and brochures for parents. The program is provided free of charge to schools around the country and has received consistently positive feedback from educators and administrators. It is also included in SAMHSA’s National Registry of Evidence-based Programs and Practices, (www.nrepp.samhsa.gov). Learn more by visiting www.rightdecisionsrightnow.com.
David Howard
Director - Communications
R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company