Tobacco giant tells local bar owner to take down inflatable ad
Jump to full article: Charleston (WV) Gazette, 2009-10-05
Author: Eric Eyre Staff writer
Intro: The R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co. is demanding that a Charleston bar owner remove a giant inflatable "Winston" cigarette pack replica outside the Blackhawk Saloon.
Kerry "Paco" Ellison has used the mock cigarette pack to protest Kanawha County's expanded smoking ban.
R.J. Reynolds alleges that the inflatable advertisement is harming the company's reputation because Ellison also is using it to advertise "unlawful smoker nights" and "encourage patrons of your bar to violate the county's smoking ban," according to a letter sent to Ellison by the tobacco company's chief lawyer.
"Obviously, it's a matter we take very seriously," said R.J. Reynolds spokesman David Howard, who declined additional comment Monday.
Ellison said he wasn't sure whether he would leave the inflatable advertisement up or take it down.
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