New Jersey May Ban Certain Flavored Cigarettes..

February 19, 2008 - The sale of flavored cigarettes would be prohibited in New Jersey under a bill (S-613) that was approved by a state Senate panel yesterday. The bill, approved by the Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee by a vote of 8-1, now heads to the full Senate. "Flavored cigarettes are a sales gimmick brought to you by the same minds that thought Joe Camel was a good idea," said Sen. Joseph F. Vitale (D-Middlesex), the chair of the panel who sponsored the bill along with Sen. Barbara Buono (D-Middlesex). "Offering cigarettes in various candy flavors is a blatant attempt by the tobacco industry to recruit children into a life of smoking, and all the negative health consequences that such a life carries." The bill would prohibit the sale or distribution of cigarettes made to taste like fruit, chocolate, vanilla, honey, alcoholic beverage, herbs or spices. Menthol and clove cigarettes are exempted from the prohibition, and the measure does not apply to cigars, cigarillos, pipe tobacco and smokeless tobacco. The bill was approved by the full Senate last session, but did not receive Assembly consideration before the end of the session last month. (by Scott Goldstein, NJBIZ, 2/15/2008) With the move away from cigarettes it would be important for this bill to also include flavored cigars, cigarillos, pipe tobacco and smokeless tobacco. UST's Skoal a very popular moist snuff has many different flavored smokeless tobacctastes to mask the tobacco taste. Skoal is available in a variety of flavors Wintergreen, Straight, Mint, Cherry, Classic, Spearmint, Berry Blend, Vanilla Blend, Apple Blend and Peach Blend (also Citrus Blend). Flavored pipe tobacco cigar brands like Middleton's Black & Mild Cigars, the top selling cigar package in the U.S. (as of 9/2004 - ACNielson) is very popular with young Americans. Several different flavors are available including Mild, Apple, Mild FT Filter Tip, Mild Cherry-Vanilla, Cream, Vanilla and Wine. (Middleton is now owned by Philip Morris USA) There's also whiskey flavored cigars, e.g., Bikers Butt Bourbon Corona. Related news briefs: PM USA recently acquired John Middleton, Inc. maker of Black & Mild (B&M) Cigars and C-store news - R.J. Reynolds Tobacco (RJR) is removing more Camel SNUS signs by the gasoline pumps... Click on image to enlarge.. (TobaccoWatch.org)