R.J. Reynolds to stop selling flavored smokes

Tobacco company R.J. Reynolds has agreed to halt sales of flavored cigarettes in the United States.

In a settlement between the company and attorneys general from 39 states, including Utah, Reynolds agreed to the U.S. ban of candy-, fruit- and alcohol-flavored cigarettes manufactured and sold by the company, according to the Utah Attorney General's Office.

"Flavored cigarettes are the tobacco industry's way of luring kids into a dirty and ultimately deadly smoking habit," Utah Attorney General Mark Shurtleff said in the Wednesday statement.

Also included in the settlement are marketing restrictions meant to prevent Reynolds from targeting youth with its advertising. States had accused Reynolds of violating the 1998 tobacco Master Settlement Agreement by using fruit and alcohol flavors, colorful packaging and other marketing ploys to attract youths to its products.