The tobacco industry’s role in the 16 Cities Study of Secondhand Tobacco Smoke: Do the data support the stated conclusions?
A research study was released re-evaluating the data from the “16 Cities Study.” The original study was designed by the R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company, who did not reveal its significant level of control over the study’s content and analysis. The study has been used by tobacco companies to downplay the quantity of secondhand smoke in the workplace. Re-analysis of the data revealed that smoke-free workplace policies would dramatically reduce total second hand smoke exposure. Click here for the article.

Pricey cigar trend back from the ashes
Despite tougher restrictions on smoking, cigar sales continue to climb. The industry saw its largest boom in five years in the 1990s when celebrities and trend setters were keen on the habit. In the years since, after the bubble burst due to demand surpassing supply, sales have enjoyed a steady climb. Norman Sharp, President of the Cigar Association of America, is sighting the gradual sales increase as “more manageable growth.” To read more, click here.

Philip Morris USA Comments on the Massachusetts Department of Public Health Report on Nicotine Yields
In a recent study, the Massachusetts Department of Public Health concluded that, regardless of brand, the amount of nicotine that is delivered to smoker's lungs has increased significantly over the past six years. After reviewing the report, Philip Morris USA (PM USA) does not believe that the conclusions about the trends in nicotine yields for Marlboro are supported by the 1997 to 2005 data that PM USA provided to the MDPH. To view the news release, click here. To access Philip Morris USA's full reports of nicotine yields provided to the MDPH from 1997 through 2005, click here to go to PM USA’s company website.

Philip Morris International announces framework license agreement with Altadis for Asia
Philip Morris International and Altadis announced that they have entered into an alliance and have established a framework for a long-term license agreement to manufacture, distribute, and market Altadis’s Gauloises and Gitanes brands in select Asian countries. Andre Calantzopoulos, President and CEO of Phillip Morris, stated that he expected the framework agreement to benefit both companies. Click here to read the Phillip Morris press release.

Taking ad-vantage of lax advertising regulations: Reassuring and distracting health-concerned smokers
An article published in the October 2006 issue of Social Science & Medicine features an analysis of tobacco industry documents and print advertising images indicating that low-tar brands targeted smokers concerned about their health with images intended to distract them from the health hazards of smoking. Click here to view the abstract.

Finding the Kool Mixx: How Brown & Williamson used music marketing to sell cigarettes
An article in the October 2006 issue of Tobacco Control shows how the 2004 "Kool Mixx" campaign returned to Brown & Williamson’s historic practice of targeting young African-American males, and exploiting a musical genre with potential to bring Kool more universal appeal. View the abstract by clicking here.

Tobacco point-of-purchase promotion: Examining tobacco industry documents
The October 2006 issue of Tobacco Control features and article that uses tobacco industry documents to show how tobacco companies have used point-of-purchase promotion in response to real or anticipated advertising restrictions. Click here to view the abstract.

Campaign Contributions by Tobacco Interests Annual Report: September 2006
In September 2006, the Tobacco-Free Kids Action Fund and Common Cause issued their annual report on tobacco industry political contributions to federal candidates, political parties and political action committees. The report found that so far in the 2005-2006 election cycle, the tobacco industry has given nearly $3 million in PAC contributions to federal candidates, political parties and other political action committees, including more than $1.7 million in political contributions directly to federal candidates . Since 1997, tobacco interests have given more than $32.8 million in political donations to federal candidates, national parties and non-party political action committees. Click here to view a summary and here access the full report.

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