S613

TRENTON – A bill sponsored by Senator Joseph F. Vitale which would prohibit the sale of certain flavored cigarettes in the State of New Jersey was approved by the Senate today by a vote of 34-4, receiving final legislative approval.

“Flavored cigarettes are a marketing gimmick from the same companies that brought you Joe Camel and other cartoon mascots for tobacco products,” said Senator Vitale, D-Middlesex, the Chair of the Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee. “They blatantly appeal to children and young adults, and are intended to encourage younger generations to pick up the smoking habit. Given the State’s interest in helping people kick the habit, flavored cigarettes isn’t something we should give silent approval to in New Jersey.”

TRENTON – A bill sponsored by Senator Joseph F. Vitale which would prohibit the sale of certain flavored cigarettes in the State of New Jersey was approved by the Assembly Health and Senior Services Committee today by a vote of 10-0, with 1 abstention.

“Flavored cigarettes are a clear and apparent marketing ploy to attract younger generations to tobacco,” said Senator Vitale, D-Middlesex, the Chair of the Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee. “This is no better than the use of colorful mascots or ad campaigns designed to appeal to kids which have historically been used by tobacco companies to recruit new customers. Given our State’s investment in smoking cessation programs and the harmful health effects of smoking which are paid for in our State’s health care system, we need to take a stand against this insidious marketing measure.”

TRENTON – A bill sponsored by Senators Joseph F. Vitale and Barbara Buono which would prohibit the sale of certain flavored cigarettes in the State of New Jersey was approved by the Senate today by a vote of 34-1.

“New Jersey invests a lot of money annually into programs designed to help people kick the smoking habit or educate kids so that they never light up in the first place,” said Senator Vitale, D-Middlesex, the Chair of the Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee. “While the State is doing the right thing in funding smoking cessation and education programs, tobacco companies are constantly trying to recruit new customers and are targeting the next generation of potential smokers. New Jersey should not stand by and allow tobacco companies to use marketing schemes like flavored tobacco, which blatantly target kids to start smoking.”

TRENTON – A bill sponsored by Senators Joseph F. Vitale and Barbara Buono which would prohibit the sale of certain flavored cigarettes in the State of New Jersey was approved by the Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee today by a vote of 8-1.

“Smoking is a life-threatening habit, and anything we can do to discourage kids from picking up the habit is a step in the right direction,” said Senator Vitale. “The problem is that the entire time we’re discouraging young people from smoking, tobacco companies are coming up with new and inventive ways to draw in new customers. It would be hypocritical for the State to invest time, energy and money into smoking cessation programs while at the same time allowing tobacco companies to get away with flavored cigarettes and other marketing gimmicks specifically designed to get children to start smoking.”