Tobacco Industry News

Reports

State AGs ask R.J. Reynolds to stop cigarette promo
The National Association of Attorneys General (NAAG) has sent a letter to R.J. Reynolds requesting that the company stop its “Break Free Adventure” campaign. The campaign for Camel cigarettes includes a ten-city online adventure game that associates the product with trendy areas of the U.S. The Attorneys General express concern over the youth appeal of the company’s use of popular culture references and trend-setting locations to market cigarettes, thereby violating the 1998 Master Settlement Agreement. Various state and local officials from the featured areas, including San Francisco, New York City, and Washington State, have also expressed concerns over the campaign. R.J. Reynolds continues to deny marketing to youth, saying the campaign is designed for adults. Click here to read more, or view the letter from NAAG here. Read more about those speaking out against the campaign in San Francisco and Washington.

Philip Morris USA, Reynolds raise cigarette prices
The two largest tobacco companies in the U.S., Altria Group Inc. and Reynolds American Inc., have raised the price per pack of their cigarettes by eight cents. The price increase applies to all brands and started on December 6 for Altria Group and December 7 for Reynolds American. Altria attributes the price increase to its need to “manage its business against marketplace dynamics”; Reynolds cites the increased costs of goods and services. Both companies have gained market share recently. Read more here.

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