THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, April 9, 1995 TAG: 9504070008
SECTION: COMMENTARY PAGE: J4 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Letter
LENGTH: Short : 29 lines
Recently, I was in the presence of a group of teenagers at an informal party. Quite a few were smoking. One was my grandson, who all through his preteen years had so strongly objected to my smoking that I finally quit about five years ago. Now he and his friends were puffing away.
I also noticed that they all were smoking the same brand of cigarettes. Did they think that they looked handsome and macho? No, that was not at all in their minds. They smoked the brand of cigarettes because they were saving the coupons. The coupons give them ``miles,'' and when they save enough ``miles'' they can get free premium items for it. Therefore, all the members of the group were smoking their heads off to get more coupons!
Just as advertising has been barred, so should these coupons be. They induce younger people to smoke more! They could die from cancer before they reach 100 miles!
Coupons on cigarette packs should be banned. Please!
MADELINE NEVALA
Virginia Beach, March 29, 1995 by CNB