In the past couple of years, tobacco companies have developed a new breed of flavored cigarettes. Gone are the days of boring menthol. Instead, we now have flavors such as "Winter Warm Toffee," "Twista Chill," and "Kauai Kolada." And to make sure these hip new cigarettes are not overlooked by the public, they are packed in bright red, yellow, and black boxes.
Unfortunately for the tobacoo companies, anti-tobacco and health advocacy groups, not to mention some members of Congress, are not on board with these new cigarettes and are seeking to have them banned.
Why, you ask? Well, it's not because the concept of inhaling a nicotene-flavored pina colada grosses them out (although that's not to say that poor flavor combination isn't ample reason to have them banned, because I think it is). Rather, it is because officials believe that the companies developed these cigarettes as a way to lure new teen smokers. Think about it: candy and fruity-drink flavors, hip slang (with all due respect to teens, who else would find the word "twista" appealing?), and cool colored boxes. It also makes me wonder if the companies are trying particularly hard to attract teen girl smokers. Not that guys don't like fruity drinks and chocolate, but I think back to my teen days when berry wine coolers were the trendy drink among us underaged girls. Most guys we knew found them pretty gross and preferred their beer instead.
Of course, the tobacco industry denies that it is targeting teens, and says that consumption of these cigarettes by teens--which appears to be on the rise--is an "unintended consequence." Uh huh. We've heard that one before.
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