Tobacco Documents Online

f CIRCLE PACKAGING CORPORATION 41 Hanse Avenue, Freeport, N.Y. 11520 (516) 868-6611 • (800) 645-2700 • FAX (516) 546-5472 Hon. Helene Weinsteen Legislative Office Building Room 839 Albany, New York 12248 Dear Hon. Ms. Weinsteen: A bill currently making its way through the New York Assembly poses a severe threat to the point-of-purchase advertising industry. This measure - Assembly Bill 7139 - seeks to prevent tobacco use by minors by, among other things, banning all cigarette advertising with the exception of ads that appear in newspapers and magazines. This proposal is ill-conceived and potentially destructive to my industry, which employs a great many people in New York State, as well as our own company which employs in excess of one-hundred people. Studies both abroad and in the U.S. have determined that cigarette advertising plays a minimal role in an individual's decision to smoke. Peer influence, and the influence of parents and older siblings, is by far the dominant factor. Banning advertising, therefore, will not affect the incidence of smoking by youths. Besides being ill-suited to achieve its stated purpose, this proposal is unconstitutionaL Since the 1970's, the courts have ruled that commercial speech is protected under the First Amendment. Unfortunately, by the time the courts get around to overtuming this measure, the economic damage will already have been done to my industry and many others. I hope you will take the above into consideration and oppose the passage of Assembly Bill 7139. Sincerely, CIRCLE PACKAGING CORPORATION HARVEY KARP President hcc: David Kriz HK:mek Servicing the Packaging Needs of America