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 Dec 5, 2025 TIM Alert
CIGARS
Swisher Sweets recently announced the return of their limited-edition Peppermint cigarillos on Instagram. The packaging features a snowflake theme.
ENDS
Geek Bar recently introduced two new products on Instagram: a new Marble Edition for the Meloso Mini, and a new model called the Hookah X, which appears indistinguishable from their Pulse X models but includes an adjustable airflow mechanism. According to the website, the Hookah X will be available in 10 new flavors like “Pink Berry,” “Lemon Ice,” and “Bali.” The Marble Edition Meloso Mini has a marbled pastel appearance and introduces new flavors like “Pink Lemonade” and “Raspberry Watermelon.” As always, it remains to be seen if these products will appear at point of sale in the US.
Excerpt from the Nov 21, 2025 TIM Alert
CIGARS
Dutch Masters recently introduced a new flavored cigar on Instagram, Cocoa, “crafted for crisp days, chill nights, and holiday sessions.” The cigars are sold in a 2-pack and feature an image of a mug of hot cocoa with marshmallows.
ENDS
Geek Bar now promotes a rewards program, G-Points Rewards, with an animated pop-up banner on their website (geekbar.com). Customers can register on a separate website that relies on self-report for age verification, and scan product security codes to earn points. Other ways to earn points include inviting friends, daily check-ins, and birthday bonus points. Prizes range from gift cards to an Apple iPhone 17.
Excerpt from the Nov 14, 2025 TIM Alert
CIGARS
Backwoods promoted a new limited-edition flavor – Rum Cake – on their Instagram this week, displaying the 5-cigar pack on a plate alongside the eponymous cake. The product features “all natural leaf wrappers.”
SMOKELESS TOBACCO
Marlboro has recently advertised Copenhagen on the home page of their website. A header on the top of the home page reads “Want smoke-free American-grown tobacco? LEARN MORE”, and it brings up a pop-up ad for Copenhagen’s spit-free tobacco pouches when you click on it. The ad also has a link to DipDirect.com so customers can order it online.
Excerpt from the Nov 7, 2025 TIM Alert
SMOKELESS TOBACCO
Skoal announced a new can design for their Skoal Snus in an email, now displayed on their website and the online ordering system, Dip Direct. Compared to the original design, there is more color and a more minimalist look.
MODERN ORAL NICOTINE PRODUCTS
A new nicotine pouch brand, Riz, was advertised in the October and November editions of B2B Wholesaler Magazine (a trade publication for vape/smoke shops). Riz comes in three nicotine strengths (3mg, 6mg, and 9mg) and seven flavors (e.g., “Bubblegum,” “Vanilla Cold Brew”). Riz is available through the Riz website and several online retailers (e.g., Element Vape).
Excerpt from the Oct 31, 2025 TIM Alert
CIGARS
Al Capone recently advertised their cigarillos and leaf wraps in retailer focused magazines. The ad promotes a new 2-pack for their “Blues” cigarillos, and it also boasts about their position in the cigarillo market. Al Capone says that their products are the “fastest growing natural leaf cigarillos.”
ENDS
An ad for a Nixodine version of Fifty Bar disposable vapes was recently seen in a business-to-business magazine. The ad shows a nicotine warning label being ripped off the page, suggesting that the product is not subject to warning label requirements.