Do candy cigarettes or tequila-flavored lollipops influence children’s decisions later on in life?
Police and health officials say they do, but some local stores say there is no reason to pull the products off the shelves. Candy and bubblegum cigarettes like those shown here are available for kids in many local stores. Staff photo by Rich Beauchesne Kittery resident Priscilla Guy said she was outraged when she walked into the local 7-Eleven and saw tequila-flavored lollipops that include a real worm. What she found more outrageous was that the candy was accessible to children. The lollipops do not contain alcohol. Guy is chairwoman of the Kittery Youth Connection and the Kittery Chemical Awareness and Prevention program. “Parents see this stuff and they call me,” Guy said. “First of all, I am worried about children eating insect larvae, but even more disturbing is the message a liquor-flavored lollipop sends to children. It tells them alcohol is OK. It makes it realistic because there’s a real worm in a tequila bottle and in the candy.” Guy approached the manager of the 7-Eleven who
