No More 'Cutesy' Campaigns for Cigarettes

Aisha Milton
ABC2 News
June 22, 2010

The U.S, Department of Health and Human Services reports 400,000 Americans die each year from tobacco-related illnesses.

In an effort to curb tobacco use, especially in young people. The Food and Drug Administration is implementing new regulations cracking down on marketing to children.

A year after President Obama signed the historic "Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act," some big provisions of the law go into effect.

Under the act, the U.S. government will have full authority to oversee the manufacturing, sales and marketing of tobacco products to young people.

The FDA will now enforce a national ban on the sale of tobacco products to children under the age of 18, including products such as spice, fruit and candy-flavored cigarettes.

Use of words such as "light", "low and "mild" to describe tobacco products will also be prohibited without an FDA order and eventually ingredients will be listed on tobacco packaging, along with more visible warning labels on smokeless tobacco.

Also, no more goodies with tobacco brands on them. Free tobacco samples or giveaways will no longer be allowed.

Finally, tobacco brand names can no longer be sponsors at any athletic or social events.