We'd like to thank Durham Wal-Mart for making the right decision for the community and removing Philip Morris' Marlboro Man advertisements from its store. The Marlboro Man has made Marlboro the No. 1 cigarette among American teens and the world's leading cigarette brand. We applaud Wal-Mart's commitment to children's health and its refusal to contribute to the growing global tobacco epidemic. Philip Morris, the world's largest and most profitable tobacco corporation, has been using the Marlboro Man image to addict kids to tobacco since 1954. This image was actually designed to capture the youth market's fancy, according to Jack Landry, its creator. Retailers who display these ads are realizing the devastating effects the ads are having on kids and are taking action. We're pleased to see that Wal-Mart values its relationship with the community.
Levin Brown
Chapel Hill
