Kid-friendly e-cigarette ads appear to work

Cartoon characters hawking candy flavors can encourage nonsmoking teens to vape or smoke

e-liquids

RIPE FOR THE PICKING  Fruit-flavored e-liquids, which can contain nicotine, are among the ways that e-cigarettes are marketed toward teens, enticing even those who have never used tobacco products, researchers say.

Roberto Herrett/Alamy Stock Photo

In the United States, cartoon characters are a no-no in cigarette ads, and candy- or fruit-flavored cigarettes can’t be sold.