CPSC, Walgreen Co. Announce Recall of "Smoke Tote" Cigarette Lighters

WASHINGTON, D.C. - In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Walgreen Co. of Deerfield, Ill., is recalling about 53,000 disposable cigarette lighters sold as part of the Smoke Tote set. These lighters' child-resistant mechanisms could fail to reset themselves, potentially allowing young children to ignite the lighters.

Each year, an estimated 190 deaths are caused by children under 5 years old playing with lighters. CPSC estimates that child-resistant mechanisms on lighters will prevent more than 100 deaths each year.

CPSC and Walgreen are not aware of any injuries involving these lighters. This recall is being conducted to prevent the possibility of injuries.

The lighters are sold inside a vinyl pouch, along with a matching cigarette case, in a blister pack. The lighters are tinted either red, yellow, blue, white, black or green. The cigarette cases and lighter pouches are either beige, black, red, navy or white. The blister pack is labeled in part, "PERFECTION Smoke Tote...FREE Child Proof Lighter & Fashion Case."

Walgreen drug stores nationwide sold the lighters within the Smoke Tote set from August 1996 through August 1997 for about $3.

Consumers should stop using the lighters immediately and return them to the Walgreen store where it was purchased for a full refund. For more information, contact Walgreen Co. toll free at (888) 899-0538. Consumers will hear a recording asking them to leave their name and number, and a Walgreen representative will return their call.

CPSC discovered this defective product as part of ongoing import surveillance in conjunction with the U.S. Customs Service. In addition, the Customs Service prevented the import of about 600,000 of these defective lighters into the U.S.