Designer Smokes

There is nothing fashionable about lung cancer or heart disease. So how can Yves Saint Laurent find any benefit, for the long or short term, in promoting cigarettes? In the long run the promoters risk diminishing their own market potential by encouraging their consumer base to expose themselves to a lethal health hazard. For now, they have ostracized themselves from apparel consumers such as myself who are repulsed by their recent ad campaign for “RITZ” cigarettes, the designer carcinogen. What’s next, designer syringes?

Although I choose not to smoke, I am tolerant of those who do smoke. However, I will not subsidize the irresponsible abuse of that company’s influence with no regard for health concerns, all for the sake of yet another buck.

YSL will receive scissor-snipped ties soaked in discarded cologne with a copy of this letter. I invite like-minded readers to join me.

ASHLEY LEWIS

San Diego