tobacco companies' outrageous conduct

tobacco companies have recently introduced new flavors such as "warm winter toffee." michigan's surgeon general and department of community health aren't having it, and asked rj reynolds to stop marketing this product. the ap article also cites massachusetts' persecution of yummy smokes, where the state claimed that it violates a law prohibiting marketing of their product to youth. matt myers of campaign for tobacco-free kids chimes in:

It's essential that states concerned about smoking among children take aggressive action to call attention to this outrageous conduct.

when is improving your product for adults not outrageous conduct? when is advertising to adults not also advertising to youth? rj reynolds is criticized for marketing cigarettes in magazines such as cosmopolitan and glamour because they target youth. i read those magazines on occasion, and if my kids were reading that crap, i would have more to worry about than cigarette ads.

studies reveal that the negative impact of tv violence can be negated with effective parental mediation. we may be able to apply the same lesson to marketing of "bad" substances. parents would do better to take an active role in their kid's behaviors, instead of hoping - and legislating - that they are not exposed to negative influences.

of course, those advocating such legislation aren’t only concerned about their children. advocates are well aware that some parents won’t talk to their kids about the harms of smoking, so legislation is the next best thing. in fact, some parents actually enjoy smoking. seeing a parent or other adult role model smoking is the best cigarette ad for a kid – if the state stops that, it will probably reduce teen smoking more than all other methods combined.

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