Jump to full article: Library of Congress - Thomas, 2008-03-03
Intro: (1) Cigarette manufacturers have, through the use of words, graphics, and color, sold, distributed, and falsely marketed brands of cigarettes to consumers as `light', `low-tar', `ultra light', `mild', `natural', and `low-nicotine', implying that the cigarettes are less harmful than other brands of cigarettes.
(2) Many smokers switch to brands of cigarettes marketed as `low-tar' or `light' out of concern for their health, believing them to be less risky or a step toward quitting.
(3) Recent studies have demonstrated that the use of cigarettes described in paragraph (1) have not resulted in any meaningful reduction of disease.
(4) In 2000, the Federal Trade Commission issued a consumer alert warning smokers that `cigarette tar and nicotine ratings can't predict the amount of tar and nicotine [a person] get[s] from any particular cigarette'.
(5) The National Cancer Institute has concluded that the marketing of cigarettes described in paragraph (1) as having lower delivery of tar and nicotine is deceptive to consumers.
(6) The marketing of one brand of cigarettes as less harmful than another brand of cigarettes when in fact there are no reduced risks is a serious enough threat to public health and welfare that there is a compelling governmental interest in ensuring that statements, claims, or other representations about cigarettes are truthful and not deceptive.
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