Industry News: Cigarette ad on billboard has the state stirred up

ALBANY: Attorney General Eliot Spitzer believes the billboard violates the tobacco settlement.

A billboard along Route 211 advertising discount-priced cigarettes available just across the border in Pennsylvania has state Attorney General Eliot Spitzer smoking mad.

The sign – just west of Route 17 in Middletown – gives passers-by a Web site address and toll-free telephone number for the discount cigarettes.

Spitzer claims the billboard "violates the spirit" of the 40-state tobacco settlement, which prohibits tobacco advertising on billboards.. .

However, because the settlement only applies to cigarette manufacturers, the retail company responsible for the sign, GO24 of Matamoros, Pa., is not breaking the law.

Spitzer said, "This billboard is directly contrary to the public-health purpose of the settlement agreement, and undercuts our continuing efforts to reduce underage tobacco use.

"I am calling upon this tobacco retailer to remove its billboard immediately," he said. "In addition, I am calling upon the tobacco manufacturers and distributors to refuse to sell any tobacco products to this retailer."

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