Connecticut Among States Suing Tobacco Co.

Source from:  wfsb.com 12/05/2007

Company Charged With Violating Ban Use Of Cartoons Connecticut and seven other states claim R.J. Reynolds Tobacco has violated a nine-year-old ban on the use of cartoons in cigarette advertising. In lawsuits being filed today, the states are targeting a section in the November issue of Rolling Stone that combines Camel cigarette ads and illustrations around the theme of independent rock music. Connecticut Attorney General Richard Blumenthal said the ad package violates prohibition against cartoons and brand name merchandise in tobacco ads. Blumenthal said the package includes cartoons and other youth-targeted imagery. "(The ad is) blatantly and flagrantly violating the agreement we reached to end our lawsuit against the tobacco companies in 1998," Blumenthal said. Other states involved in the lawsuit are Pennsylvania, California, Illinois, Maryland, Ohio, New York and Washington. "We're going to be asking for 5 or 10 times what that ad cost them and ask that the money goes to help stop teen addiction and smoking," Blumenthal said. A spokesman for R.J. Reynolds told Eyewitness News that the company was "surprised and concerned" when it saw the magazine on newsstands. "Had we been aware of the graphics prepared by Rolling Stone, we would not have advertised adjacent to the gatefold," the company said. Enditem