Company Wants to Market Snuff as "Smokefree" July 22, 2003
News Summary
With legislation banning indoor smoking sweeping the nation, the leading maker of smokeless tobacco is asking the government's blessing to tout its products' smoke-free properties, the New York Times reported July 21.U.S. Smokeless Tobacco Co. (UST) is asking the Federal Trade Commission to OK an ad campaign that would tour Revel snuff as a way to protect others from tobacco smoke. "We realize this is a controversial topic, so we're giving [the FTC] the opportunity to give us comments," said a UST spokesperson.
The ad features a couple -- one a smoker, the other a nonsmoker -- pitching Revel as an alternative to smoking. "No secondhand smoke. Another reason to switch to Revel," the tagline says.
Matthew Myers, president of the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, said the ads could convince smokers to switch to snuff rather than quitting.
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