After two years of investigating e-cigarette maker Juul’s marketing and sales practices, the company now has to pay $438.5 million to 34 states and territories, several states said Tuesday. The investigation found that Juul intentionally marketed its products to young people, despite the fact that selling e-cigarettes to children is illegal.
Its marketing efforts include free rehearsals, social media campaigns, launch parties and the use of young-looking models in its ad campaigns, according to the office of Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton.
Flavors popular with kids
The packaging was easy to hide and flavors such as mango, fruit and mint were popular with underage users. According to studies, Juul was by far one of the most popular nicotine products among children and teenagers, reports news channel CNN.
The current settlement now restricts Juul’s ability to sell and market it, including restrictions on marketing to persons under the age of 35, restrictions on in-store displays, restrictions on online and retail sales, and a retail compliance audit protocol.
“Solving Past Problems”
Juul said the settlement is “an important part of our ongoing commitment to resolve historic issues,” according to a statement the company emailed to CNN on Tuesday.
In 2019, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration reprimanded the company for its marketing, including a presentation to children at school where company officials said the product was “completely safe.” Juul had previously stopped selling most flavors and deleted his social media accounts.
Court Blocked FDA Ban
Then, in June, the FDA ordered Juul to stop selling its products. A court overturned the FDA ban, allowing the products to continue to be offered for sale in the United States. The $438.5 million settlement will be paid over six to ten years.
Source: Krone
I’m Wayne Wickman, a professional journalist and author for Today Times Live. My specialty is covering global news and current events, offering readers a unique perspective on the world’s most pressing issues. I’m passionate about storytelling and helping people stay informed on the goings-on of our planet.
