Camels For Kids

Not since Bullwinkle has a big-nosed cartoon character been so cool -- or blundered his way into so much trouble. But Joe Camel is no ordinary creation. Conceived as a cross between Don Johnson and James Bond, the self-proclaimed "smooth character" found in Camel cigarette ads has, in the past three years, thrust the brand toward the top of the charts among the spring-break set.

Trouble is, Joe seems to be too suave for his own good. According to three studies published in last week's Journal of the American Medical Association, the debonair dromedary captures the fancy of more children than...