Tobacco Industry Alerts

NAATPN Tobacco Industry Alert: 2007 KOOL Tour Begins

This year, R.J. Reynolds will proceed with its manipulative marketing tactics by targeting young African American artists. Reynolds will rely on Black leaders in the music industry to advertise and increase sales of KOOL cigarettes in Black communities. For February, 37 events have been posted in twenty major cities across the United States. The number of events is anticipated to peak at 700-800 by the end of 2007 (with KOOL's New Jazz Philosophy Tour expected to return for its third year this summer). The number of targeted cities will also increase throughout the year. Free KOOL products will be distributed at the events.

Some of the events include the following:

• Concerts & after parties featuring artists like Jamie Foxx, Kanye West, P. Diddy, Akon, Musiq Soulchild, Jaguar Wright, Robin Thicke, New Edition, and several other young Black musicians that are noted for their respectful lyrics and messages to young people about the preservation of self and life
• Comedy shows featuring BET Comic View Comedians
• Fashion and Talent Shows
• Holiday Celebrations such as Valentine's Day and Mardi Gras

Marketing:

• Promotional media includes advertising at retail, direct mail, Black publications such as Essence, King, and Rolling Stone Magazines, and the KOOL website
• Website: Kool.com - visitors must reveal critical direct marketing information such as their full name, mailing address, telephone number, and e-mail address in order to get into the site

Please visit NAATPN for a listing of KOOL events by targeted city and state (events, dates, and locations are subject to change without notice). This list will be updated periodically, so return frequently for updates. NAATPN has created a toolkit to counter-market these events.  For more information, contact La Tanisha Wright, NAATPN Associate Director for Surveillance, at 972-821-9524 or latanisha.wright@gmail.com.

Hot Pink Camels?

R.J. Reynolds wants to boost sales of its Camel brand among women. It's luring them with designer packaging that's pretty enough for any bottle of perfume you might find at Sephora. The slick black boxes come in different shades of fuchsia or teal and they feature the trademark camel, this time in hot pink. The new look is coupled with magazine ads where the product is surrounded by flowers and the slogan "light and luscious." The cigarette-maker hopes to woo women, which now make up less than a third of the market for Camels. Currently, adult female smokers are more likely to choose competitive brands like Marlboro or Newport. Women make up about half of adult smokers. "Critics say Camel No. 9s, new cigarettes made by R.J. Reynolds, are clearly targeted at teenage girls...Read the full article and watch a video on abcnews.com or visit The New York Times online to view another related story.

Business Tobacco Alliance

R.J. Reynolds (RJR) is building a new group called the Business Tobacco Alliance. Their website recruits business owners to fight tobacco taxes and smokefree laws (http://businesstobaccoalliance.rjrt.com/BTAHome.jsp).

PM and RJR Marketing Initiatives

Philip Morris (PM) has launched a new menthol cigarette category, Marlboro Smooth, while R.J. Reynolds (RJR) seeks to loosen PM’s hold on retail display space. For more information visit: http://www.brandweek.com/bw/magazine/current/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003553375

RTDA’s Assessment of 2006 Surgeon General Report

The Retail Tobacco Dealers of America (RTDA) is sending an assessment of the Surgeon General’s Report on secondhand smoke to local and state legislators. The assessment states that the scientific evidence is inconclusive, specifically regarding SIDS; and promotes ventilation as an alternative to going smokefree.  For more information or talking points, contact Frieda Glantz at ANR 510 841-3032.