It’s time for a little rant. One of the cornerstone arguments for banning fruit and candy flavored cigarettes (and now electronic cigarettes) is that they target minors.

Really? How can an inanimate pack of cigs or an electronic cigarette perform such a heinous act? Quite simple really.. With a little help and proper placement from living breathing PEOPLE anything can be dangerous or evil.

As a result of this media fueled dogma, all candy and fruit flavored cigarettes are now banned as of late last year.

I realized again just how bogus the fruit and candy flavored cigarette argument is today as I walked around Target and then later WalGreens and noticed fruit flavored Nicorette nicotine gum in plain sight for all to see, including children, and NOT behind the counter.

In Target the Nicorette was on the VERY bottom shelf so low a 3 YEAR OLD COULD SEE IT AND REACH IT! How do I know? I was with my 3 year old nephew at the time.

Nicorette & Commit & Target Brand Nicotine Infused Candy & Gum on Bottom Shelf

I had actually seen the Nicorette there before on a prior visit, but it didn’t hit home until I saw my nephew checking out stuff on the shelves and then prayed that he didn’t ask me about it.

As we walked out of that isle I was pissed!

In case you haven’t seen any of the TV commercials Nicorette is now also available in a plethora of tasty flavors including: Orange, Fruit Chill, Cinnamon Surge, Extreme Chill, Fresh Mint, and Mint. And, if you were hoping for cherry NO PROBLEM. Check out the Commit nicotine lozenge available in cherry or mint.

Nicorette Flavor Selection (Fruit Chill, Cinnamon Surge, Extreme Chill, Fresh Mint) also in Target

They would probably have more flavors if the crap didn’t have such a high failure rate and anyone actually bought it.

Now it’s not like a kid is going to be able to walk up to a register and buy nicotine gum or lozenges. But, a little hoodlum might be able shop lift some if it is right out in the open. And, a curious little nephew might ask some innocent questions and become persistent if you don’t have a good answer.

So why is it that no one is going ballistic about this?

This stuff is literally GUM and CANDY with nicotine in it yet somehow it isn’t targeting children?!

What’s the difference? Why can’t adults enjoy flavors of tobacco products other than menthol and tobacco? Is it that we can’t keep them out of kids reach unless they are banned by the governement?

Of course not. We can control the availability and placement of tobacco products, including flavored options and we have done so for years.

I believe there are a few reasons why people aren’t going nuts about fruit flavored nicotine gum and lozenges yet jump all over tobacco products including electronic cigarettes now.

First, big tobacco has evil intentions and that has pretty much been proven. Electronic cigarettes are guilty by association and hard to defend as long as those tacky mall kiosks keep being allowed by mall owners.

Nicotine gum and lozenges on the the other hand… that’s intended as medication and is approved by the FDA as a nicotine replacement therapy. Apparently its intentions are soooo good and noble it is OK to put right on the lowest shelf in a large super market.

The people who believe the previous two paragraphs must struggle to gain a better understanding of intentions vs. results. Isn’t the road to hell paved with good intentions? What is the origin of that cliché anyway?

This stuff is literally GUM and CANDY with nicotine in it …

The fact is that the most popular cigarette flavor among minors that smoke is menthol. The one flavor exempted from the government’s flavored cigarette ban. This non-value-add could only be the work of special interests and politicians trying to get re-elected.

Finally, I think people hardly pay any attention to fruit and candy flavored nicorette gum / lozenges because we aren’t hammered constantly with marketing, legislation and media stories suggesting it to us as we are with the candy and fruit flavored tobacco products argument.

So, the next time someone suggests to you that candy and fruit flavored cigarettes have rightly been banned because they target children tell them sure… but now what are they going to do about the nicotine infused gum and candy right there on the bottom shelf?

The FDA should lift the ban on candy and fruit flavored cigarettes, Target needs to get the Nicorette OFF the bottom shelf and malls need to eliminate 100% of electronic cigarette kiosks and I.D. anyone that comes into a smoke shop if they look under age.

Is this really that hard people??? Sheeesh!!

Rant complete.

Walgreens Nicotine Gum & Candy at Least Partially Behind Counter