The ad campaign is funded by the 1998 nationwide tobacco settlement with U.S. states. The print, radio, television and Internet advertisements are produced by the American Legacy Foundation.

Lorillard spokesman Steve Watson said the ads are in violation of the settlement agreement because they personally attack an employee of a tobacco company or vilify companies themselves. "They have continuously shown a pattern of vilification, and most recently have specifically attacked Lorillard with a radio ad which suggested that we put dog urine in our cigarettes," Watson said. "We do not put dog urine, or have we ever put dog urine, in our cigarettes."

Dr. Cheryl Healton, president of the American Legacy Foundation, called Lorillard's action "unwarranted and outrageous. Anyone who has seen truth ads knows they educate young people about the addictiveness, health effects, and social costs of tobacco, which is exactly what the master settlement agreement says they must do."

She said that Lorillard is creating "a smoke screen to hide the company's real goal, which is to crush the truth campaign because it's working to stop kids from smoking."

COMMENTS ON THIS ARTICLE:

SUBMIT A COMMENT:

Note: Comments are now held for moderator approval. More info

Name:
Comment: (limit 250 words)
Enter this word (help):	Change

GUIDELINES: 
Please keep comments on-topic, courteous, clean, non-commercial, and within the word limit.
Read the complete guidelines