The National African American Tobacco Prevention Network (NAATPN) successfully lead a public awareness campaign against the “Kool Mixx” marketing campaign activities focused on African American youth. Attorney Generals from Maryland, New York and Illinois filed suit claiming the marketing technique violates the 1998 Master Settlement Agreement by targeting African American youth. In June 2004 the court ruled that the Brown and Williamson Tobacco Company needed to start by down-scaling their campaign.

On October 6, 2004 the RJ Reynolds Tobacco Company settled the remainder of the lawsuit by providing $1.46 million dollars and severely limiting future “Kool Mixx” activities. Settlement money will be shared by the National African American Tobacco Prevention Network, the CDC, the American Lung Association of Illinois and the Bobby Wright Community Center in Chicago.

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