Reese’s $25,000 promotion may violate sweepstakes laws

By DEE-ANN DURBIN
AP Business Writer

Reese’s may be violating state and federal laws with a sweepstakes offer currently advertised on packs of peanut butter cups. The promotion on two-cup packages reads “You could win $25,000” and, in smaller print, “See details inside.” But only after consumers have bought and opened a package can they see the small print: no purchase is necessary to win. The Reese’s contest was first reported Monday by Edgar Dworsky, a consumer advocate and former assistant attorney general in Massachusetts. Pennsylvania-based Hershey Co., which owns the Reese’s brand, didn’t immediately respond to telephone and email messages left Monday by The Associated Press.