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Move to curb smoking by minors

Cigarette industry

on the warpath

against Clinton

WASHINGTON: Fuming US tobacco firms went to court on Thursday to block a government crackdown on cigarette sales to minors, and served notice to President Bill Clinton that he was running serious political risks.

The advertising industry also threatened legal action if necessary to protect what it called its constitutional right to promote tobacco products without restrictions from Washington.

They were responding to Clinton's announcement on Thursday that nicotine was an addictive drug and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) would take a series of steps to keep young people from getting hooked.

The five major US manufacturers quickly filed suit in a federal court in the southern tobacco state of North Carolina, seeking to block the FDA action.

"The FDA's attempt to exert jurisdiction over cigarettes is an unprecedented and unlawful effort to extend its regulatory reach far beyond its statutory mandate," said Charles Blixt, senior vice president of R.J. Reynolds Tobacco.

The tobacco industry says the FDA would need a mandate from Congress before it could get into such areas, and so far legislators have shown no inclination to confer such authority on the regulatory body.

"Saying that cigarettes meet the strict statutory defination of medicines, medical devices or pharmaceutical products just does not make sense," said Parrish, who is in charge of corporate affairs for Philip Morris.

Clinton was running afoul of an industry that registered more than 47 billion dollars in US sales last year. Despite an active anti-smoking lobby, up to 50 million Americans, a fifth of the country's population, still light up.

Politicians from tobacco producing states - including members of the president's own party - have reacted bitterly to the government's move against cigarettes and are threatening to block any new rules.

The industry directly or indirectly provides employment for more than 680,000 people, according to the Tobacco Institute. And at least one group of them - advertisers - was also gearing for battle with Clinton.

The Association of National Advertisers Inc., which says it represents 5,300 firms, called the measures announced Thursday "a crushing censorship regime" and said it would file suit if necessary to protect its rights to free speech.

Here is the list of measures announced Thursday by President Bill Clinton to halt the marketing of cigarettes to minors. Cigars and pipe tobacco, used mostly by adults, would be unaffected:

- Tobacco sales will be prohibited to anyone under age 18.

- Youths will have to prove their age with a photo identification card to buy cigarettes.

- Cigarette vending machines, accessible to youths, will be banned and sales must be face-to-face.

- Free samples will be baned.

- Billboard advertisements for tobacco within 1,000 feet (300 meters) of schools and playgrounds will be banned.

- Pictures or other images in advertisement on billboards or in publications that reach substantial numbers of children and teenagers will be banned.

- Marketing gimmicks aimed at teenagers - ranging from sales of single cigarettes to brand names on T-shirts or gym bags to sponsorship of sporting events - will be banned.

- The tobacco industry must fund and implement an annual 150 million dollar educational campaign aimed at stopping teenagers from smoking.-AFP