
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SUNDAY, March 4, 1990                   TAG: 9003042081
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: C6   EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY 
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: BRISTOL                                 LENGTH: Short

BOUCHER: TOBACCCO ADS HURT INDUSTRY

Those who defend the tobacco industry are facing difficulties because of controversial advertising campaigns launched by the country's two major tobacco companies, Rep. Rick Boucher said.

Boucher, D-Abingdon, said that while he and other congressmen are trying to protect their districts' tobacco economies, the companies are hurting themselves and playing right into the hands of the growing number of anti-tobacco congressmen.

He cited was a recent plan by RJR Nabisco to test market a new cigarette named "Uptown," aimed at inner-city blacks. When word of the plan was publicized, anti-smoking groups vehemently protested, and the company withdrew its plans.

Boucher said the overall tobacco economy in Virginia has improved in recent years. But he said several bills introduced by the anti-tobacco coalition could be detrimental to sales in Virginia and the rest of the tobacco-producing states in the region.

The group, which now numbers 45 in the House of Representatives, has introduced a bill that would substantially limit the type of advertising cigarette manufacturers could use. One proposal would ban photos in ads, which would be limited to text. The bill also would require an accompanying health warning with text as large as the text of the advertisement.

Another bill would place tobacco sales under the jurisdiction of the federal Food and Drug Administration.

"The FDA tends to view its jurisdiction through a health-related prism, and I think it would clearly not be to the advantage of the industry for the FDA to have that authority," Boucher said.

by CNB