ABC News ran a segment last week on R.J. Reynolds' new cigarettes and their ads, which utilize bright pink colors and enticing words such as "light" and "luscious." These new cigarettes, coined "Camel No. 9" are quite obviously targeting young teenage girls. Although the Joe Camel advertising campaign has ended, and cigarette ads are also banned from TV and billboards, the ads for this new cigarette, are in many popular young women's magazines (Vogue and Cosmopolitan to name two big ones), because print advertising technically remains legal, as long as it does not "target" minors.
However, with the fancy ads, carefully selected adjectives and the sleek, sophisticated box in which Camel No. 9's are sold, it is not a far-fetched idea to say these cigarettes are blatently aimed at young girls. According to ABC News, 42 Congressional members sent a letter to editors of eleven major magazines, urging them to stop running Camel No. 9's ads.
R.J. Reynolds claims they are targeting adult women smokers; similar to how Joe Camel -- a cartoon character, mind you -- was aimed solely at adults, huh? Check out the story, and be sure to leave your comments on this latest ploy from Big Tobacco.
Wednesday, June 13, 2007
The Pink Version of Joe Camel
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2 comments:
My daughter is three years old and she wants a pack! Not because she has a clue what cigarettes are but because she loves anything that is pink.
I'm amazed at how crass the tobacco industry can be in their attempt to addict our kids.
Checkout another post about this issue on the FACT blog!
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