The Attorney General of New Mexico has sued Circle K and U.S. affiliates of FEMSA for selling flavored disposable e-cigarettes that have resulted in “childhood nicotine addiction” across the state.
In a press release on Tuesday, the New Mexico Department of Justice said the convenience retailers, along with two distributors, “willfully distributed and sold flavored disposable vape products in blatant disregard for public health and safety.
” Such products are marketed with bright packaging and sweet or fruity flavors “that are particularly attractive to minors,” according to the announcement.
The lawsuit claims that Circle K and FEMSA affiliates Emprex Proximity and Southwest Convenience Stores violated the New Mexico Unfair Practices Act, which prohibits businesses from using deceptive or misleading methods in trade or commerce.
New Mexico isn’t Circle K’s largest market, but the retailer still has around 100 convenience stores in the state, roughly half of which are in Albuquerque, according to the lawsuit.
Although most of those sites are franchise-based, Circle K’s corporate team is named as a defendant since it controls the sourcing, approves advertising and trains select personnel for these sites, the lawsuit notes.
Full story Circle K, FEMSA affiliate sued over e-cigarette sales | C-Store Dive
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