Bills Aim To Snuff Out Cigarette Advertising

Concerned that cigarette advertising targets young people, two senators Friday offered legislation to tone down the industry’s message to minors.

Generic packaging for cigarettes was proposed by Sen. Mike Heavey, D-Seattle, whose SB 5300 would require that all brands be packaged in white paper with black printing.

“The color of the packages adds to the promotion of the product, especially to kids,” said Heavey.

The measure offered by Sen. Bob Oke, R-Port Orchard, would ban promotional giveaways of cigarettes. Providing coupons to be exchanged for free cigarettes would be illegal under SB 5689.

The two senators outlined their legislation before the Senate Health and Long-Term Care Committee.

Dr. Mimi Fields of the state Department of Health said the bills are a move in the right direction.

“These kinds of ads are targeted to young people,” said Fields, who told the panel that 90 percent of the people addicted to smoking are hooked before they are 20.