The National Association of Attorneys General (NAAG) is demanding cigarette manufacturer RJ Reynolds Tobacco Co. to cease a promotional campaign for Camel cigarettes which according to the group targets children.

In a letter to the second largest tobacco manufacturer, the group wrote that Reynold’s campaign has an evident appeal towards children and can support minor tobacco use. “We are worried that the given promotional campaign is using various aspects of popular culture, including art, motor sports and different attitudes in order to advertise Camel cigarettes in such a way that is targeting to youngsters’ psychological needs,” stated Nebraska Attorney General Jon Bruning.

The group also mentioned the 1998 tobacco settlement which bans the marketing of tobacco products to young people. Those restrictions contained a ban on Reynolds’ use of the cartoon character “Joe Camel.”

The given campaign underlines 10 destinations among which are Las Vegas, New Orleans and San Francisco on special cigarette packages being distributed in December and January that had various images of the cities and well-known places of interest. It also included such states as: Austin, Brooklyn, Seattle, Texas, Utah and Williamsburg. Reynolds removed the image of camel from their packages and called smokers to visit a special designed website in order to fins the camel and win many prizes.

As stated RJ Reynolds, an affiliated company of Winston-Salem, N.C.-based Reynolds American Inc., their campaign appeals only adult smokers. “We responded to the group’s letter and would happily meet with them, but we do not think that the database marketing promotion infringes its obligation under the 1998 tobacco settlement,” stated Maura Payne company’s representative. “The promotion is evidently adult and too limited,” Payne added.

Attorneys general of the State were joined by various state in mentioned above cities asking Reynolds to halt this campaign. “I was alarmed and very disillusioned by this marketing campaign, which uses the name and image of Seattle in order to attract young smokers. Some of the cigarette packages from the special edition feature landmarks in and around Seattle,” stated Washington State Governor Chris Gregoire.

Recently in a letter to Reynolds, New York City Health Commissioner Thomas B. Barley demanded the company to cease the promotion, which contains pictures of Brooklyn’s Williamsburg neighborhood. “Your campaign can disrupt our recent achievements by putting in a false light an addictive and dangerous product as a highway to independence and something that makes a person look cool. Promoting the idea that youth New Yorkers may break loose and gain street cred by smoking Camel cigarettes may be effective, but it is very dangerous and wrong,” Farley wrote. Government officials from San Francisco and other featured cities also made a stand against this campaign.

By Steve Collins, Staff Writer.Copyright © 2010 US-Tobacconist.Com. All rights reserved.