I like to write “remember when” essays, and yesterday I got to thinking about penny candy and how wonderful it felt to buy a handful of candy with a few copper pennies. One of my favorites was candy cigarettes: all sugar, shaped like a real cigarette with one tip painted red.
It was my intention to go on the web and find a picture of the candy to attach to this post. Imagine my surprise to find that candy cigarettes are a very controversial topic. Who knew?
According to Science Daily
ScienceDaily (Jun. 19, 2007) — New research suggests that playing with candy cigarettes may favorably set the minds of some children towards becoming future cigarette smokers.
And the British Medical Association, (BMA) reports, candy cigarettes have actually been banned in some countries.
Candy cigarettes have reportedly been restricted or banned in many countries, including Canada, the United Kingdom, Finland, Norway, Australia, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates. In the United States, legislation banning candy cigarettes has been proposed unsuccessfully at the federal level in 1970 and in 1990, in 11 states, and in New York City. Only one US jurisdiction, North Dakota, has ever banned candy cigarettes. (That ban in 1953 was repealed in 1967.)
Who knew?
All I wanted to do was reminisce a little about how I loved those candy cigarettes. I remember sucking on the end until it came to a sharp point. Although, upon recollection, I don’t think I ever put the “lit” end into my mouth, so I suppose they did represent a real cigarette to me.
And, looking back, I did become an adult smoker, so maybe the test results are valid. Oh, didn’t I tell you there have been actual tests run? It appears that kids who smoke pretend cigarettes grow up and become adults who smoke real cigarettes ?
“Candy cigarettes: do they encourage children’s smoking?” This study found that sixth graders who reported having used candy cigarettes were twice as likely to have also smoked tobacco cigarettes, regardless of parental smoking status. Additionally, 5-11 year olds in focus groups consistently identified candy cigarettes as “smoking toys,” BMA
Sheesh!
The next time I decide to write a “remember when” memoir, I’ll try to stick with something that is less controversial like Tinkertoys, Teaberry Chewing Gum, or Tangee Lipstick, which I loved to wear when I was a young teen.
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Well I loved candy cigarettes and didn’t become a smoker. Although I am a SERIOUS choco-hollic, so I know that is why I loved them, all that chocolate!
I got to tour a chocolate factory where they make all kinds of chocolate delights and they showed us some old molds that are no longer used. One was for the chocolate cigarettes. It was big enough to make about 2 dozen at once. You can go there in person, or take an on-line tour at their Web site: http://www.sbchocolate.com/
I loved candy cigarettes, and did not become a smoker.
It seems to me that banning candy cigarettes to prevent kids from smoking real cigarettes is a bit a$$ backwards.
Here’s an idea…Actually ban the real cigarettes, then kids could eat all the candy cigarettes they want and you never have to worry about them starting to smoke. Although I imagine the candy cigarette lobby isn’t as powerful as the tobacco lobby…so a cigarette ban won’t be happening any time soon (or ever).
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