Tobacco industry news

  
 
See also  Tobacco litigation   and  The Light/Mild scam

STOP PRESS:

 

Philip Morris hid harm from additives: study
December 2012: Philip Morris misled smokers about harm from additives in their products, says a University of California study. The study re-analysed results of a Philip Morris study called "Project Mix" which concluded in 2002 there was "no evidence of substantial toxicity" - but found from the same data the additives led to an average 20% increase in 15 carcinogenic chemicals. Independent (UK) 21/12/11    Full study    ASH release 22/12/11:  Philip Morris misled smokers  

                                                                                                                      

TOBACCO INDUSTRY: UNLAWFUL, DECEPTIVE AND LETHAL

 

US District Court Judge Gladys Kessler's damning 2006 judgment against Big Tobacco 
in a landmark US government lawsuit against the major companies. 
She found they'd violated civil racketeering laws, defrauded the public, 
lied for decades about targeting of children and health risks of smoking.  
Summary at  tobaccofreekids.org   and  full judgment - general findings upheld in Supreme Court 2010.    Some excerpts: 

   [The tobacco companies] have not ceased engaging in unlawful activity... 
Their continuing conduct misleads consumers in order to maximize … revenues 
by recruiting new smokers (the majority of whom are under the age of 18), 
preventing current smokers from quitting, and thereby sustaining the industry. 

[This industry] ... survives, and profits, from selling a highly addictive product 
which causes diseases that lead to a staggering number of deaths... 
an immeasurable amount of human suffering and economic loss, 
and a profound burden on our national health care system. 

Defendants have known these facts for at least 50 years or more... [but] have 
consistently, repeatedly, and with enormous skill and sophistication, denied these facts 
to the public, to the Government, and to the public health community... 
[they] have marketed and sold their lethal products with zeal, with deception, 
with a single-minded focus on their financial success, and without regard for 
the human tragedy or social costs that success exacted.

 

 

Latest news on tobacco industry misdeeds (most recent at top): 

Tobacco industry's 60-year history of undermining health policy
November 2011: New article in American Journal of Public Health shows how the tobacco industry used sophisticated PR from the 1950s to undermine and distort emerging science on tobacco harm, creating industry/academic conflicts of interest to undercut public health policies. Abstract  

PNG minister tells tobacco industry to butt out
November 2011: Papua New Guinea's Health Minister has attacked British American Tobacco interference in health policies. PNG is finalising comprehensive tobacco control laws in line with the FCTC treaty - moving to raise tobacco taxes, ban "kiddie pack" and loose cigarette sales, and make public venues smokefree. BAT has proposed hosting an intergovernmental "Tobacco Working Committee" as a "consultative, advisory and reviewing authority on all policy and legislative matters relating to the tobacco industry" - with a "perpetual" mandate cutting across core tobacco control health policies. The TWC would comprise Government and the private sector stakeholders, “in particular representatives from the tobacco industry”. In a media statement 11/11/11, Health Minister Jaime Maxtone-Graham said the meeting “should not take place, should not be convened by British American Tobacco and should not be attended by anyone concerned about improving public health in Papua New Guinea.” He said “BAT has no interest in the health of our citizens, much less effective tobacco control. This meeting is a ruse to manipulate and reinvent their image.”  He said FCTC guidelines rule out incentives to tobacco companies establishing or running businesses.  Globalink

WHO chief slams industry Dirty Tricks against plain packs
October 2011: WHO Director-General Margaret Chan has slammed the tobacco industry for "dirty tricks" and unethical behaviour in trying to block tobacco-free policies worldwide. Dr Chan told a WHO meeting the industry was claiming Australia's plain packaging bills violated international trade obligations. She urged all countries to "stand firm together, do not bow to pressure... we must never allow the tobacco industry to get the upper hand".  AFP 11/10/11  

 

Tobacco poisoning thousands of child workers

September 2011: Thousands of child tobacco workers being "poisoned" - with Malawi just one example of the industry "turning a blind eye to human rights abuses by its suppliers in theb quest for greater profit."  One World South Asia report 15/9/11


Big tobacco knew of radioactive content but hid it, didn't remove it
 September 2011:  Tobacco companies knew as far back at 1959 that their products contained carcinogenic Polonium-210 - but covered it up, says a review of industry documents. The review also shows the tobacco industry knew from 1980 of a process that could have removed the radioactivity - but chose not to use it.  ABC news report 29/9/11  See earlier 2007 study 


BATA exploits refugee controversy to question plain pack legality
 September 2011: BAT Australia places full-page ads in newspapers exploiting legal dispute over refugee policy to cast doubt on legality of plain tobacco packaging bills. The ad asks "Is the government's legal advice on shaky ground?"   BATA ad in Sydney Telegraph 7/9/11, p. 22


Philip Morris tries to get hold of confidential child interviews
September 2011: Philip Morris tries to use Freedom of Information to gain access to confidential university interviews with children about smoking. The move coincides with an anonymous hate campaign against university tobacco researchers. Independent, UK 1/9/11  Philip Morris later appeared to have dropped its FOI claim: Independent 26/11/11  


Philip Morris: a friend to die for
August 2011: Chilling billboard ad in Bekasi, West Java, Indonesia promoting Philip Morris-owned Sampoerna brand says "Dying is better than leaving a friend" and "Sampoerna: a cool friend".  Photo 18/8/11    "Grotesque" ad condemned:  Asian Correspondent 27/8/11

 

Tobacco giants sue US to block graphic warnings
August 2011: Four US tobacco companies sue US Food and Drug Administration to block new graphic packet health warnings. Described by FDA as "frank and honest", the warnings are panned as "manipulative" and "emotional" by tobacco companies.   AP/CBS 16/8/11 

 

Big Tobacco misleads retailers; offers Fiji hols for pushing
July 2011: Some retailers are concerned at misleading flyers distributed to them by Imperial Tobacco urging them to protest about plain packs to current House of Representatives inquiry. Meanwhile BAT Australia criticised by ASH for offering Fiji holidays to retailers pushing tobacco.  Imperial flyers   BAT retailer Fiji promotion  and  Telegraph report 24/7/11 


Tobacco least reputable industry: world/Australian survey

June 2011: Second year running, tobacco scores lowest in worldwide survey of reputation.  85,000 respondents (including > 5600 Australians) in independent Global Reputation Pulse survey rated tobacco easily lowest of 25 major industry groups.  ACOSH media release 15/6/11 


Tobacco giants thriving on exploitation of young, poor, uneducated

June 2011: Big tobacco thriving by ruthlessly exploiting young, poor, uneducated in poorest countries, says UK Independent report. Tobacco profits rising at expense of lives, health. Continuing litany of price fixing, corruption, legal muscle, targeting children. Independent 29/5/11 

 

BAT price threat targets children, poor; $500m pa "ripoff" of smokers 
May 2011: British American Tobacco warns of a price-cutting war to counter plain packaging - criticised by ASH and allies as a further threat to target children and harm disadvantaged smokers. BAT release 17/5/11 and  ASH response 17/5/11   Also  Prof Simon Chapman comment 17/5/11   Industry threat reveals $500m pa ripoff in company "gouging":  Australia Inst release 18/5/11


Philip Morris' "decades of neglect" of potent carcinogens
May 2011: Philip Morris and another US tobacco company had the technology to reduce or control a group of potent carcinogens in their tobacco - but over a decade after promising to, research analysis of their top brands showed there'd been "no meaningful attempt". Full study

 

Philip Morris meeting glosses over record of "bullying, subversion"

May 2011: Philip Morris International at its annual shareholder's meeting on May 11,  celebrated another year of record profits - while another five million plus died from tobacco. 
UK Daily Mail report with damning quotes and photo     Same day, Corporate Accountability International report shows PMI lining its coffers at the expense of lives and health. Exposes "dark truth behind how PMI earns billions of dollars from coercion, political manipulation... legal bullying... subversion of public health laws." CAI alternative report on PMI, May 2011

 

Menthol used to deceive and addict young smokers
April 2011: Study of industry documents shows tobacco companies have deliberately used menthol "to attract inexperienced smokers who... perceive them to be less harmful..." Included Philip Morris, BAT, Imperial and more. See  abstract  with link to full study

 

Philip Morris website manipulates smokers
Mar. 2011: After decades of misleading smokers, hiding health harm and increasing addictiveness, Philip Morris Ltd opens new website to whip smokers into opposing health policies that will save lives and help them quit - smokefree public places, tobacco tax increases, out of sight displays and plain packs. See  ideservetobeheard site 


Secret tobacco industry docs show two decades of health interference

2011: Australian documents among a new release of more than 60,000 formerly secret tobacco industry documents show the industry aggressively blocking health reforms for two decades. They also kept secret research on how their product was wrecking babies' DNA.  ASH media release 11/3/11  including links to the documents    


BAT pushing cool addictive cancer to teens
 2011: BAT pushes menthol to youth in Switzerland - ad appears in newspaper with large 12-18y.o. readership. Midway through puffing on a cigarette, smoker can break with their teeth a capsule of menthol in the filter - delivers strong mentholated flavour. Children, especially girls, reported to love it.  Kent Ad 20min 21/2/11 Full page   Kent Ad 20min 21/211 Ad only    Menthol no mere flavouring - more addictive, carcinogenic - ASH Australia release 2/6/10

 

Tobacco industry exaggerates illicit trade

2011: Deloitte report  commissioned by Big 3 tobacco companies claims “taxpayers losing $1bn” in illicit tobacco - “up 25%” since 2010 tax rise and is now (they claim) almost 16% of total tobacco sales. The report rejected as "self-serving smoke" by researchers.  Comment from Prof Simon Chapman.  Latest TI tactics exposed: Croakey blog says  tobacco industry is bad for public health

 

Tobacco companies stall reforms at $360,000 taxpayer cost
2011:  Tobacco companies Philip Morris and British American Tobacco seek thousands of  files on proposed health reforms under Freedom Of Information - costing taxpayers over $360,000. The "beyond excessive" FOI claims would have cost almost $1.5m until reduced by department-funded negotiations.  See  Greens media release 24/2/11


Big Tobacco rehashes plain pack attack

2011: The tobacco industry has revived its "won't work" campaign of media ads against plain packaging, fronted by the Alliance of Australian Retailers. ASH says the "big three" tobacco companies are peddling the same old poison in an expensive box - just like it does with its products.  See  ASH Australia media release 22/2/11   with link to latest tobacco-funded ads

 

Industry flogs "increased smuggling" myth in UK
 2011: The tobacco industry is continuing to assert that tax increases will boost illicit tobacco trade, despite the lack of evidence of this, writes Deborah Arnott of ASH UK in the Guardian.  Guardian article 24/2/11     Note: ASH Australia is not affiliated with ASH UK or any other "ASH"   

 

Cheap cigs target poorest areas
 2011: Cut-price cigarettes are more available in lower-income areas, undermining efforts to cut smoking, says a Cancer Council Victoria study of milk bars near randomly selected secondary schools. More than twice as many retailers in the poorest areas sold discounted cigarettes as those in wealthiest areas.  See  full study pdf  and  Melbourne Age report 9/2/11

 

Philip Morris pays out $5m in chewing tobacco death suit

2010: Philip Morris broke longtime policy of never settling personal injury case, with US$5m payout on wrongful death suit against its subsidiary US Smokeless Tobacco. USST was sued over 42-year-old man's death from oral cancer caused by company's chewing tobacco. Case unearthed alarming  company correspondence with child users. PR Watch report 14/12/10  

 


BAT's spooky black market melodrama
2010: British American Tobacco UK site posts 6-minute glossy video with professional actors in spooky fictional (and fanciful) story linking tobacco control policies (plain packaging, retail display bans, tax increases) with organised Eastern European crime figures, cynical greedy politicians, violence and terrorism.  See  BAT video  - and  response  from Prof Simon Chapman

Sex, Lies and Cigarettes 
2010 documentary video (42 mins) produced by Current TV (US)  - explores and exposes aggressive marketing tactics of multinational cigarette companies in their bid to attract a new generation of smokers, especially among children and low-income people, especially in low-middle income countries.

How big tobacco teamed up with climate change deniers to cloud scientific air
2010: New book Merchants of Doubt documents how a small group of scientists with tobacco industry links campaigned to undermine scientific consensus on tobacco health impacts, acid rain, climate change, more.  Bloomsbury Press reviews  and excerpts from Guardian (UK) article 2006

Tobacco industry wins big US court victory
 2010: US Supreme Court rejects government appeal that would have handed government AUD$330b in tobacco companies' allegedly ill-gotten gains. Court disallowed a process of seizure called "disgorgement"; but did not overturn 2006 findings of US District Court that the profits were made by "unlawful, deceptive, lethal" means. See  AFP report 30/6/10

 

Tobacco "least reputable" industry: world survey

2010: Tobacco industry rated least reputable among the world's 25 major industry categories in the independent Global Reputation Pulse worldwide survey of over 80,000 consumer interviews in 32 countries.  See  Sydney University/ACOSH media release with results 16/6/10

Tobacco industry may use gene research to avoid responsibility
2010: Tobacco industry funding of genetic research into addiction may be used by the industry to avoid responsibility for addiction, says a study of industry documents.  See  study

Big Tobacco racks up profit despite sales volume fall
2010: World's Big 3 tobacco companies (Philip Morris, BAT, Japan Tobacco) annual reports show 2009 cigarette sales volume fell 1.2% - blaming recession, tobacco taxes, smokefree laws. No. 4 Imperial volume up 10%, partly by buying No. 5 Altadis. Tobacco company profits keep rising. 2009 annual reports: PMI,  BAT,  JTI  and  Imperial

Tobacco companies take aim at Asian women
2010:  Tobacco marketing to women in low-middle income countries is stooping to new depths, telling smokers they will be smarter, sexier and even have easier childbirth.  See  Independent/AFP report 3/5/10  and   World No Tobacco Day 2010 hits back against targeting women

Tobacco's tricky tactics in Australian "dark market"
 2010:  The tobacco industry is resorting to a wider range of under-the-radar tactics as Australian regulations tighten.  See  Sydney Morning Herald feature with ASH comment 24/4/10

Tobacco companies fined for UK price fixing
 2010: Imperial Tobacco, UK tobacco manufacturer Gallaher and ten retailers were fined a total AUD$366m for illegal UK price-fixing deals. Imperial ($182m) and the others also fined over price-matching deals on tobacco products from 2001-03.  See  sky.com report 16/4/10 

Canada fines tobacco companies $589m for smuggling
 2010: Two Canadian tobacco companies to pay AUD$589m to federal, provincial governments to settle suits alleging they shipped cigarettes from Canada to the US - to be smuggled back to Canada for cut-price sale.  See  Canada Globe & Mail report 13/4/10   and  UPI report 14/4/10

Tobacco companies didn't tell us cigarettes may contain pig's blood
2010:  Cigarette filters may contain traces of pig's blood - and the tobacco companies didn't tell their Jewish, Islamic or vegetarian customers.  See  news.com.au report 30/3/10   The Colbert Report feature on this is available at the Tobacco Control Supersite   Read full story in  Tobacco Control

Tobacco exec defends unsafe product
2010: British American Tobacco executive reluctantly agrees at a NZ parliamentary inquiry that tobacco is "not safe" - but defends shop displays on basis of "customer choice". See  3news report 11/3/10    See all  submissions to the NZ inquiry  - especially submissions by Te Reo Marama, ASH NZ, ASH Australia, BAT NZ, Philip Morris NZ, and Maori health expert  Dr Marewa Glover 

Tobacco funding "skewed" findings on Alzheimer's link
2010:  Review of evidence on smoking and Alzheimer's says tobacco funds "skewed" findings for over 20 years. Tobacco industry-affiliated studies found smoking cut AD risk by average 14%; those independent of tobacco influence showed an increase of + 70%.  See  study abstract  - spool down to pp. 465-480     See Science Daily report 2/2/10

Philip Morris scare campaign against plain packaging
 2009: Philip Morris' glossy scare campaign to tobacco retailers warns plain packs will be "very difficult" for retailers, "increase security risk", "inconvenience customers" and "limit choice". See campaign pics    But  2009 study  shows the industry worked to mislead Australian and Canadian governments with "phoney" complaints.   More on  plain packaging 

Tobacco companies undermine packet health warnings 
2009: Tobacco companies are undermining graphic pack health warnings by favouring the least disturbing images, says NZ study. The companies are meant to rotate warnings evenly but seem to print more of those less confronting. See  Science Alert report 30/9/09  and  the study 

Should an ex-tobacco director be celebrated as a role model?
2009: Fashion designer Carla Zampatti, ex-Rothmans Director, gets Order of Australia gong for “service through leadership and management.... in.... fashion and retail...., multicultural broadcasting, and to women as a role model and mentor.”  Comment in  crikey.com

US court confirms tobacco industry lied about Lights
2009: US court finds tobacco companies misled consumers to think "light"/"mild" cigarettes were less harmful. See  redOrbit report 23/5/09   Tobacco industry in Australia unapologetic despite ACCC finding of deception, jumping seamlessly to terms like "smooth" and "fresh".  See Melbourne Age report and editorial 20/2/05    More at The Light/Mild scam

Tobacco industry should butt out after decades of interference 
2009: ASH urges Australian governments to support treaty commitments and end decades of tobacco industry interference in "fundamental and irreconcilable conflict" with public health.   See  ASH release 5/5/09   See  WHO background  FCTC: how governments should  prevent interference  

Tobacco industry's shifting stance on harm, addictiveness
2009: WHO report on the industry's decades of shifting stances on addictiveness and harmfulness. Internal documents in conflict with public denials of harm and addictiveness. Industry documents show what they knew, and when. Still they blame the smoker.  See  report


BAT re-butted after misleading councillors 

2008:  British American Tobacco tries to scare Wagga (NSW) Council out of smokefree alfresco dining reform by making misleading claims  See   ASH release 27/11/08     See  BAT claims and ASH response   Council resisted the interference and put its community first - see ASH release 31/3/09 

Tobacco companies and dealers try to derail NSW child protection measures 
 2008: Philip Morris and NSW tobacco dealers try to scuttle out-of-sight shop display reform by misinforming NSW ministers. The bill was later passed by NSW parliament.  See  ASH media release 21/7/08    See  Philip Morris scare tactics - and the truth     Latest on  Protecting children

BAT accused of targeting African children
2008: BBC documentary on British American Tobacco targeting African Children with cigarettes. Is this social responsibility?  "We don't want children to smoke" - see  BAT response  

Smoked out: big tobacco's deals in clubland
2008: Tobacco companies have paid Victorian pubs and clubs commissions for selling tobacco - the kind of link that's frustrated and weakened smokefree workplace laws.  See  Melbourne Age report 11/7/08 

UK tobacco firm connected with smuggling, sanction busting, product dumping
2008: Legal case exposes British cigarette manufacturer Gallaher's connection with tobacco smuggling, breaking international sanctions in Iraq, and dumping inferior product in poor countries.  See  Sunday Times online report 27/4/08       

"Vitamin E enhanced" cigarette latest ploy to associate tobacco with health
2007: German tobacco company's cigarette "enhanced" with Vitamin E draws criticism from health experts as latest attempt to deceive smokers into associating smoking with health or reduced harm.  See  Tobacco-Free Kids (US) statement 24/9/07

Philip Morris breaks promise to end Formula One sponsorship
2007: Tobacco giant Philip Morris goes back on a promise to end its high-profile sponsorship of Ferrari's Formula 1 car racing team - sponsorship that exposes children to promotion.  See  Tobacco Free Kids article 17/4/07

Industry undermines tobacco treaty in Nepal
2007: The tobacco industry in Nepal did its best to skate around the country's ratification of the worldwide tobacco treaty, the FCTC.   See  Kathmandu Post story 4/3/07 

Tobacco giant pushes ventilation scam 
2006: British American Tobacco documents show they knew ventilation/filtration was ineffective at removing secondhand smoke, but continued pushing these worldwide via the hospitality industry to derail smokefree laws.  See tobacco.org news 27/1/06  and  full BMJ study 1/06

Trust us, we're a big tobacco company
2005: Uni of Otago - ASH NZ report unpicks British American Tobacco spin of "social responsibility" to show a corporation continuing to deceive.  See  Scoop NZ report with ASHNZ media release 8/11/05      Summary and  full report 

Marlboro leads the pack with buzz marketing
2005: Philip Morris' top brand is still out there in the US, using a range of flash marketing strategies to push its deadly product to young people.  See  Business Week report 31/10/05

 

Winfield exploits Aboriginal site in ad campaign
 2005: BAT brand uses Aboriginal special place Kata Tjuta in Central Australia in a German ad campaign - turning the site upside down for "Down Under" theme. Insensitive to Aboriginal communities, whose health is ravaged by tobacco use. See  the ad   More at our  indigenous page

 

Big Tobacco "meddling, manipulating and interfering" in treaty
 2005: Major international report says tobacco companies while claiming "social responsibility" worked to derail global FCTC anti-tobacco treaty.  See ASH media release 7/10/05    See the  report

Philip Morris opposes proven measures to reduce child smoking
2005: Philip Morris says it "doesn't want kids to smoke" but opposed measures to reduce child smoking in US states of Texas and North Carolina.  See Tobacco-Free Kids release 15/7/05

Big Two AGMs attract worldwide protests; report batters BAT 
2005: Tobacco's Big Two company AGMs attract worldwide protest; and report shows BAT "social responsibility" has destroyed health and environment.  See  ASH media release 28/4/05

Tobacco industry's artificial nicotine trick  
2005: Big tobacco experimented with developing artificial nicotine substitutes to trick governments and smokers, anticipating nicotine might one day be banned, says research paper.  See media release 22/4/05  and  the paper

Philip Morris talk of "harm reduction" is a sham
2005: Philip Morris Executive David Davies tells Australia's National Press Club the company is about to trial “reduced harm” cigarettes on humans. But previous industry claims of "safer" products have been found to be deceptive. See Melbourne Age report 25/3/05 

Philip Morris hooked young people, concealed dangers: US Supreme Court 
2005: Smoker hooked on tobacco at 15 has US$10m damages suit against Philip Morris upheld by US Supreme Court, rejecting the company's review application. See report 22/3/05 

Philip Morris Indonesian deal a "blow to regional health"
2005: "Responsible" tobacco giant slips around tobacco treaty to target regional poor. See Philip ASH media release 16/3/05  featuring Mary Assunta of the SE Asia Tobacco Control coalition.

Philip Morris worked to downplay SIDS link with secondhand smoke
2005: Company documents show Philip Morris spent years undermining and hiding research linking secondhand smoke with SIDS (cot death).  See study   and  media report 7/3/05

BAT hit by mounties' smuggling allegation
2005: British American Tobacco hit by smuggling allegation - from the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.  See media report 9/1/05

Secondhand harm hidden
2004: Philip Morris hid harm from secondhand smoke for 20 years, says Lancet  study. PM USA lab uncovered evidence in the early 80s of serious risks from passive smoking but its findings were never made public.   See media report 11/11/04    See full Lancet article 11/04

Company breaks UK law
2004: Imperial tobacco found guilty of breaking advertising law in UK. See  ASH UK release 4/8/04

I helped BAT destroy embarrassing documents
 2004: Lawyer blows whistle on tobacco giant "document retention" policy. McCabe v BAT case heard BAT destroyed thousands of potentially embarrassing docs on marketing, particularly to youth. Melbourne Age 26/9/04  (see Sept 2004, Birnbauer...) and  latest  on McCabe case

Philip Morris US fined for dumping emails relevant to court case
2004: Philip Morris US and parent Altria Group have been fined US$2.7m for deleting emails relevant to a court case. See Associated Press report 21/7/04    

What Philip Morris didn't tell us about pesticides in their cigarettes
2003:  Philip Morris Australia's own documents show they knew for over 20 years about high DDT and other pesticide levels in their cigarettes, but didn't tell the public.  See the research     Australian Government also knew levels were high, but ignored its own advisers and left cigarette contents in the hands of the tobacco industry - with its record! - to self-regulate.

Philip Morris fined for breaking NSW law over student fashion promotion
2002: Philip Morris fined in Sydney's Downing St Local Court (8/11/02) for breaking the NSW Public Health Act - arising from promotions targeting women at a youth  fashion event. It was the first time Philip Morris was convicted for breaking tobacco advertising laws. More...

Philip Morris hid what they knew about tobacco's link with meningococcal disease
2001: See ASH media release 28/11/01    Note an Australian study has now found children's risk of this disease is multiplied by not 4 but 9 times by having parents who smoke.  See the study

 
 

 Page last updated 22/12/11