Local policy-makers have passed resolutions against candy-flavored tobacco after viewing videos created by BRAD!BRYAN Multimedia for area health departments.  Students Working Against Tobacco (SWAT) members from Sarasota and Manatee Counties star in these videos exposing tobacco companies’ insidious tactic of adding kid-friendly flavors to their products (and designing the packaging to look like candy).  Manatee SWAT students presented “Candy-Flavored Tobacco Targets Youth” to the Bradenton City Council, then to the Manatee County Commission, and both unanimously passed resolutions urging the state to close the loophole that allows the sale of these products.  A similarly themed video created for Sarasota County, “Candy-Flavored Tobacco:  I’m Not Buying It” was shown to the Venice City Council, which also unanimously passed a resolution.  After their success in Venice, the Sarasota County group plans to show the video while addressing the Sarasota City Commission and Longboat Key Town Commission.

Read:  Bradenton City Council Meeting Minutes

Many local adults are not even aware of these flavored products; studies show that kids are twice as likely to see the products or ads for them.  Kudos to the SWAT members and health departments for educating our local decision-makers.  BRAD!BRYAN was honored to work on these projects!  Thanks especially to Megan Jourdan and Jessica May in Manatee County and Kisha Gaines, Hilary Woodcum, and Emma Triplett in Sarasota County.

Watch:

Manatee County video

Sarasota County video