Tough New Cigarette Rules Go Into Effect

Opponents of smoking hailed tough new rules for cigarettes that went into effect Tuesday.

"The most stringent restrictions on marketing to children that this nation has ever seen," said Matthew Myers the president of the Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids.

Have already ended flavored smokes like midnight berry or mandarin mint, the Food and Drug Administration will now enforce the end of misleading labels with words such as "light," "ultra-light" or "low tar," reports CBS News correspondent Dean Reynolds.

"Smokers have been lulled into thinking they were doing something that was not harmful to them," said Robin Mermelstein with the University of Illinois.

Veteran researcher Mermelstein says studies show that for smokers, light cigarettes cause heavy damage.

"They think they've had a healthier option and in fact they end up being exposed to more of the harmful components of cigarettes," Mermelstein said.

Smokeless tobacco will have to display new larger health warnings, too. Starting next week, with few exceptions, it will be against the law to ship tobacco products through the U.S. Postal service - stopping a big tax-free supply of cigarettes for children who buy them online.

New Law Nixes Tobacco Shipments by Mail
Cigarette Packs Get Colorful for "Light" Ban

But smoking still appeals. Twenty percent of Americans older than 18 do it.

The tobacco industry is nothing if not flexible. Benson and Hedges simply switched from light to a new word - "DeLuxe" - while others erased the label but retained the color-coded pack.

"We made the business decision we were going to go with colors," said David Howard with RJ Reynolds. "We felt that was effective."

And business is why Marlboro says the label is different, but "your cigarette stays the same … ask for Marlboro in the gold pack."

Something the New York City Health Department strongly advises against.

"Don't be fooled. All cigarettes contain the same poisons that make you sick and kill you," says a NYC Health Department advertisement.

And that's not just blowing smoke.

[ztruhs]

Seems like we are going to lose more jobs in our country,the post office losing all that postage and the Companies employees shipping.With all the problems that Congress and the Senate should be trying to solve to help our citizens instead of dragging their feet,its amazing they have the time to pass an important issue like this.I enjoy a cigarette and cigar once in awhile,so I guess that make me a bad person.Those service people who are serving their country,especially being under stressfull conditions,I can see some may like a cigarette or cigar once in awhile also.Its so nice of our government protecting them from cancer and looking out for them.They must be a bad person also,because they might want a cigarette.All I can say is "I'm in good company being called a bad person." 'We The People"are the ones to blame because we elect prople who could care less about the average person,who passes mostly money making laws.What will the next law be? Don't worry it may effect you next time.I always did say.noboby cares unless it affects them,and before long it will affect you.I believe 80% of or representives was lawyers before being elected ,an we'll all be dumb enough to elect more in NOV. I believe Rome was an Empire for over 300 years,at our rate,I doubt we will make it to 300 years.

[LilyDL]

It will be interesting to see how any new regulations will affect the electronic cigarette industry. A totally different game but since I bought mine, I quote after 41 years of smoking. I understand the benefits/side effects arent fully investigated yet, but common sense can tell you that 5 chmicals is better than 4000+. I bought mine from www.prosmokestore.com and havent looked back.

There are tons of great companies out there but I guess it is marketed as a smoking alternative. No claims to health benefits until more studies are done.

I definitely recommend them to anyone! Smoke anywhere, no second hand smoke, only blow out water vapor, and feels real. Just google a search...dont want this to come across like spam!

Good article!

[retm-w]

If the FDA doesn't ban them, they'll figure out a way to tax them.

[SusanAnne1]

I am really tired of the whining, crying non (or ex) smokers claiming that we should tax cigarettes even more. I quit smoking last year after 36 years of smoking... 36 years of contributing far more than my fair share for causes that have nothing to do with smoking (health insurance for children, farmland preservation, etc.). Now that I no longer contribute $3-$4 per day to things that have nothing to do with me, I can just sit back and enjoy the benefits like the rest of the people who take more than they contribute. Oh, and before you get all preachy and whiny about my extra burden on the health care system. I missed 2 days of work in 8 years due to illness. I had surgery in 1996 for something non-smoking related and haven't spent more than $1000 a year for anything relating to my heath (except insurance) in 48 years.

A lot of people are quitting and do you honestly think that these causes will ask for less money when there is less revenue? So, the next time you see someone smoking outside you can thank them. If you insist on being preachy and whiny, you can always set aside $3,$4, $5, $8 per day and hand it over to the federal, state and/or local government. If you do that, you have the right to whine.

[JFLA23]

I was a smoker for over 20 years. I used to save up my Marlobro miles and smoke more to get the free duffle bag , jacket etc etc. Its about time tobacco companies have restrictions. Why dont they have to list ingredients???? Do all consumable products have ingredient labels? YES.

At least now since I switched to an electronic cigarette I feel SO MUCH BETTER. and no one tells me I smell like smoke. I bought from a few companies over the last year and the best one I found was from Cilini. It is well made and gives me that hit in my throat. Check them out www.cilini.com

[reutersexposed]

Basically people who smoke cigs know whats coming. The article is a lot like the one I read at ReutersExposed.com the cig companies lack corporate responsibility and so do those guys

[playa1165]

Cigarettes kill people, theres no real reason to smoke exept lack of willpower to quit. make them expensive, make them label em correctly, whats the problem. If you want to kill yourself slowly, have at it. It'll just cost more and be packaged a little different. Oh yeah, you'll have to get off your unhealthy ass and go to store cause you can't get them in the mail.

[rf35]

Lack of willpower? Get yourself addicted to heroin and then tell me about willpower. Thank goodness for the e-cigarette...at least until the FDA bans it under the excuse of a "drug delivery system." The real reason being the bite it's taking out of tobacco tax revenue. I firmly believe the FDA is the most corrupt government entity this side of Afghanistan.

[pws54]

If it were just willpower, then far less people would smoke. Simple as that, unless you would prefer to believe your own opinion over former Surgeon General C. Everett Koop, who stated that cigarette smoking was as addictive as heroin and cocaine. Apparently you have never smoked so good for you.

Why do you think the entire tobacco industry was fined for adding extra nicotine? Because of the increased addiction it caused. Do some homework before spouting off.

[retm-w]

playa1165

Don't need the U.S. mail, UPS and FEDEX will still deliver them, right to your door.

[playa1165]

Yeah sure, cigarettes and heroin are the same. next you'll tell me that food is addictive and thats why people are fat. Let me know the percent of heroin addicts who make an effort to quit, compared with people who smoke cigarettes that actually make it..

[dragon8me]

Every time the gov wants to take away a little more of our freedom they say it's to protect our children or it's a matter of national security. The worst part is we're stupid enough to let them. As for my children, I think I can do a better job of protecting them. As far as national security, it's a lie. We had to start 2 wars we can't win because a handful of idiots attacked us. I don't think the nation is more secure no matter how much freedom they take from us. Give us back our strike anywhere matches and gunpowder, our hemp and iodine and everything else they've banned and let us protect ourselves. Just think, we might even get out of debt if we didn't give it all to "military contractors".

[retiredgustav]

The so called war on drugs is a good example.

[nojoy01]

by dragon8me June 23, 2010 12:01 AM EDT

Give us back our strike anywhere matches and gunpowder, our hemp and iodine and everything else they've banned and let us protect ourselves.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ah dragon8me, it's obvious you don't understand. If we were to "protect ourselves" then we wouldn't need all of those wonderful people who really, truly, know what's good for us to protect us from ourselves. And since the only thing these wonderful people really know how to do is tell you how to live your life to make them happy, if we didn't "need" them anymore, they'd be out of a job. Destitute. No job, no money, no power, homeless, wandering the streets mumbling to themselves and screaming at people when they see someone doing something "dangerous". You have to keep your eye on the main target, dragon8me, think of it as a huge jobs program for the unemployable. Yes, I know that it's frustrating, sometimes enraging, having to put with these wonderful people who devise ever more regulations in order to have you live your life to suit them but think of it as a compromise. Without this huge jobs program we'd be awash in a sea of homeless, destitute, pathetic, and unemployable people who might well go psychotic as they realize that they no longer have the power to make other people live their lives to please them. Another thing to consider, the power to regulate other people's lives is a most powerful narcotic. And like any other narcotic, it's addicting. And the more power you exercise over other people's lives, the more you need in order to obtain the same "high". We can't force all of these wonderful people who know what's best for us go "cold turkey". Then we'd have a national disaster. Or rather another national disaster. :)

[dragon8me]

You would think Americans think they live in the garden of Enen the way we like to forbid the use of natural plants. But it's ok for Monsanto to genetically engeneer them and get a patent on them and drug companies to synthetically create the active compounds. Yes the garden... of Hell..

[venter10]

Big Brother health nuts are at it again. This health nut nation and government suck. I wish we could just relax and be like the 1960's again. I miss my favorite cigarette ads.

[retiredgustav]

You mean like Fred and Barney smoking Winston. They got me addicted.

[macwrites]

cigarettes are not the number one cause of death in our youth - abortion is. regulate abortion with a simple sonogram - that will reduce deaths of our youth by at least 50%. think about that. thank you

[venter10]

We need more abortions. Kill all the future kids and we could have freedom back again. No more control freaks saying we can't watch a cigarette ad or listen to them on the radio or see a cigarette road sign because of the temptation to kids in this so called free country if we'd get enough abortions to end kids existance!

[Scimajor]

"cigarettes are not the number one cause of death in our youth"
Where does the article say this? I missed it.

"abortion is. "

You have numbers to back this up ..... of course not.