TIM Alerts
Tobacco Industry Marketing (TIM) Alerts provide weekly newsletters to subscribers to keep up to date with tobacco industry marketing and emerging tobacco products. Below are excerpts from the five most recent TIM Alerts. To see an archive of all previous alerts, click here.
Excerpt from the Aug 28, 2026 TIM Alert
CIGARETTES
An ad for Camel cigarettes appeared in the September 2026 issue of Sports Illustrated. Camel last advertised cigarette products in consumer magazines in 2024.
CIGARS
Swisher Sweets recently released many new flavors across several styles to coincide with the brand's new look. The new flavors include those from the Classic line, like Watermelon, Purple Razz, and Mango Lemonade; Swisher Leaf in Cookies N Cream and Russian Cream; and Swisher Leaf Wraps in Blue Raspberry, Russian Cream, and Cookies N Cream.
Excerpt from the Aug 21, 2026 TIM Alert
CIGARS
Swisher Sweets has recently promoted a new cigar flavor in retailer magazines. "Georgia Peach" is a new addition to their Leaf line, and it is a limited-edition cigar that comes in packs of 3. The packaging emphasizes that it’s made with “100% hand-selected premium American broadleaf.”
MODERN ORAL NICOTINE PRODUCTS
Fre has released Strawberry Mango Ice pouches under Fre Flavor Labs (a “rotating series of limited-edition flavors” created with consumer input, mentioned in a previous alert). The Strawberry Mango Ice pouches are available in 6mg and 12mg strengths. The company is offering a free can of Blackberry Lemon Ice (mentioned in a previous alert) or Strawberry Mango Ice pouches when consumers spend $75 or more until August 31. Fre appears to have been selected for FDA ’s pilot program to streamline review of PMTAs for nicotine pouches. Although the pilot program was announced in September 2025, there are no PMTAs for Fre yet.
Excerpt from the Aug 14, 2026 TIM Alert
CIGARS
Backwoods has recently added a new flavor to their website. The new flavor, Red Velvet, is described as being for “the people who appreciate richness without heaviness”. The dessert-themed cigar is limited edition and comes in a 5-cigar pack.
ENDS
In their Interim Results 2026 presentation, British American Tobacco (parent company of RJ Reynolds Vapor) stated that four new Vuse Pro flavors will be released in Quarter 3 of this year. While Vuse Pro devices are currently not available in the U.S., RJ Reynolds Vapor Company submitted PMTAs for an age-gated Vuse Pro device and compatible pods in June 2024. The new Vuse Pro flavors are advertised as “coming soon” on Vuse’s website and in a display at a convenience store in the Kansas City area.
Excerpt from the Aug 7, 2026 TIM Alert
CIGARS
Dutch announced in a business-to-business magazine advertisement (NACS magazine) that the company will change the packaging for their cigarillo products. The new packaging will launch in January 2027.
ENDS
Geek Bar posted a video on Instagram that includes customer testimonials from Rolling Loud 2026, a music festival that took place in Florida in May. The festival attendees share their opinions about the Geek Bar Mate 60k, a pod-based device with a magnetic battery attachment. They cite the flavors, sweetness, and cost-effectiveness of only buying the battery once as attractive product features. Geek Bar does not currently have any product authorizations from FDA. Geek Bar’s website claims that they “have submitted PMTAs to the FDA for our products, including no flavored products aside from tobacco and menthol pods.”
Excerpt from the Jul 31, 2026 TIM Alert
CIGARETTES
Philip Morris USA (parent company: Altria) recently launched a new line of Marlboro cigarettes, Marlboro Cowboy Cut, which is available in three varieties: Red, Gold, and Menthol. In their 2nd Quarter and First Half Results webcast, Altria stated that Marlboro Cowboy Cut is intended to reach “value-sensitive Marlboro smokers” and has generated strong interest among premium cigarette smokers. An ad for Marlboro Cowboy Cut was spotted in a chain convenience store in New Jersey.
MODERN ORAL NICOTINE PRODUCTS
We recently identified the nicotine pouch brand ZSY. The brand has an account on Instagram that includes unique marketing that targets gamers, with hashtags like #Gamers, #eSports, and #GamingRoutine. The ad states that the pouches are a convenient way to “lock in.” ZSY does not have any PMTAs, and we were unable to identify any information about whether they have PMTAs under review.