The Florida Attorney General has announced a $79 million settlement with JUUL Labs, banning it from advertising and promoting its products to youth in Florida and dedicating $30 million to the “Smoke-Free Florida Fund” to protect children from harmful marketing and products.
Key points:
1. JUUL reaches a $79 million settlement with Florida.
2. Of the settlement, $30 million will be used to establish the “Vape Free Florida Fund.”
3. JUUL is prohibited from advertising and marketing to teenagers in the state.
U.S. State of Florida Reaches $79 Million Settlement with JUUL
On March 10, the Florida Attorney General’s Office released news that Attorney General James Uthmeier announced a partnership with JUUL Labs, Inc. Reached a $79 million settlement to resolve the company’s past marketing lawsuits against children in Florida. Under the settlement terms. JUUL shall not take any action in advertising, promoting, or marketing JUUL products to reach youth in Florida.
- “As a father, the safety and health of my children is always my number one concern. Florida has led the fight to end youth vaping, and I am proud to announce this significant settlement with JUUL.”
He announced that he would establish the “Vape Free Florida Fund” and allocate $30 million from the settlement to enforce Florida’s laws protecting children from harmful marketing and products.
Previously, a lawsuit by the U.S. Attorney General’s Office accused JUUL of luring children through technology-powered vape devices that were easy for children to hide and whose nicotine product flavors appealed to underage users.
Under the settlement. JUUL will pay Florida $79 million and $30 million to support the Vape Free Florida Fund to help enforce state nicotine and vape laws. In addition, JUUL agreed to no longer advertise and promote its products to youth in the state.
Other terms of the settlement include:
- JUUL must not use models under the age of 35 in its ads;
- JUUL may not use brand names or cartoon characters in advertising;
- Its products and logo must not appear on television or in films;
- JUUL must not be compared with the nicotine content of combustible tobacco products;
- JUUL may not promote products in Florida media or outlets unless, according to the National Advertising Demographic Service, 85% or more of the media audience is not youth;
- Billboards may not be used in Florida.
