Tobacco companies try to skirt new laws
CNN is reporting that tobacco companies are trying to get around new laws banning the use of terms such as “Light”, “Mild”, and “Low Tar”, by color codling packaging.
CNN did an informal survey and people tended to rate Pall Mall Blue as having lower tar and being milder than Pall Mall Red.
RJ Reynolds argued that people have a right to be able to choose the brand and style of cigarette they are wanting to purchase.
Further, big tobacco has filed suit against the government to nullify the ban on labels such as low tar and light. So it appears the fight may go on a while.
At issue, is the government’s perspective that suggesting that one cigarette is “lighter” may suggest that it is healthier when there is no evidence that that is the case.
Certainly, people should have a right to choose, but misleading marketing is potentially very harmful to consumers. Perhaps a way to distinguish more accurately might be to go with Cancer Accelerator Version 1, and Cancer Accelerator Version 2.
