The Days of Lore

Smoke(less) on the (sky-blue) water(s)

Thursday, April 30th, 2009 | pdX, politiX

It took Oregon what … two decades to finally ban smoking in bars? But the Beaver State is all about being ahead of the curve in making sure kids don’t mistake smokeless tobacco for bubblegum (I don’t recall bubblegum making me projectile vomit).

The Oregon House of Representatives voted April 22 to slap a $2.14 tax on all cans of smokeless tobacco weighing at least 1.2 ounces. The bill also bans smokeless tobacco companies from targeting youth through event sponsorships and billboards and cartoons.

It doesn’t seem that long ago when beer companies were making TV commercials with animated dancing animals. It was Tony the Tiger and the Hamm’s bear. Remember those Hamm’s commercials? The ones with the animated bear playing baseball and getting himself into zany predicaments? I do. “What is this land of sky-blue waters?” you ask. It’s a magical place where bears play sports and children develop drinking problems at the age of 9.

Hamm’s television commercial from 1979

Tags: Hamm's, Oregon House of Representatives, smokeless tobacco bill

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