Are black smokers' preference of mentholated brands like Kool, Salem and Newports a matter of cultural preference, tobacco industry marketing, or some combination thereof?
A researcher at the University of California offers his theory via the New York Times:
"The migration of African-Americans to urban manufacturing centers after World War II, coupled with the emergence of black-oriented newspapers and magazines, created various opportunities for niche marketing. In the case of cigarettes, with research showing a slight black preference for Kools, a menthol brand, the industry saw an opening to appeal to black smokers."
And then there's this: Though magazine advertising for cigarettes has declined, the Times reports "the portion devoted to menthol brands — only 12 percent in 1998 — had grown to 76 percent by 2006."
- Twitter (0)
- Facebook (0)
- Google+
- Comments ()
Comments
Discussions for this story are now closed. Please see the Community FAQ for more information.