Jump to full article: AP, 2004-03-31
Author: NANCY ZUCKERBROD The Associated Press 3/31/04 7:22 PM
Intro: A tobacco company's marketing campaign featuring hip-hop characters appears to be aimed at black youths in violation of a settlement between the industry and 46 states, the state attorney general in charge of enforcing the agreement said Wednesday.
Brown & Williamson Tobacco Corp.'s campaign for Kool cigarettes includes images of youthful rappers, disc jockeys and dancers on cigarette packs and in ads. Under terms of the settlement, tobacco companies are barred from targeting teens through advertising or marketing.
"Its advertising, retail displays and packaging appear to be targeted to youth, and particularly African-American youth," said Maine Attorney General Steven Rowe, who heads the tobacco enforcement committee of the association representing attorneys general. . .
Sherri Watson Hyde said she was "absolutely outraged and appalled" to see the Kool displays in convenience stores around her home near Orlando, Fla.
Hyde, who heads the National African American Tobacco Prevention Network, said it is obvious the ads were designed to pique the interest of teens.
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