Tobacco industry critics say a new R.J.
Reynolds ad campaign for smoke-free New Year's resolutions is
really an attempt to prevent people from quitting nicotine.
For the first time the Winston-Salem-based company
is advertising its smokeless tobacco pouches called snus (SNOOZ) as alternatives to smoking. The "resolution" ads appeared in wide-circulation magazines including Time, Sports Illustrated and People.
The Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids says the ads are trying to
take advantage of people who try to quit smoking for the new year.
Under federal law, companies cannot claim that tobacco products
work as smoking cessation products.
On Thursday, WFDD's David Ford spoke with Reynolds spokesman David Howard regarding the various charges being layed out against the new advertisements for Camel Snus [SNOOZ].
[Interview]
The Food And Drug Administration, which regulates tobacco advertising, is reviewing the Reynolds ad campaign. The agency is charged under the Tobacco Control Act with deciding if any tobacco ads make false claims.
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