Tobacco News and Interesting Information

The sale of certain 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.