249 



II. STATEMENT OF FACTUAL GROUNDS 



A. INTRODUCTION 



Tobacco companies market and promote 1o«> tar, low nicotine cigarettes with the 



purpose ant! Int.nt oi creating In the Tiind of the public the Idea that these 



cigarettes will «'i.1gfte or pravent the onset of disease associated with the 

 smoking habit. 



The tobacco industry manufactures many brands of low tar and low nicotin* 

 cigarettes. The production and marketing of these brands began after evidence was 

 publicized linking exposure to tar and nicotine In cigarette smoke to disease. 

 Cigarette companies have promoted these products as safer than cigarettes having 

 higher tar and nicotine levels. Aggressive marketing strategies, and the use of 

 direct statements, suggestions and insinuations in cigarette advertisements, have 

 led the public to believe that tar and nicotine are the primary dangerous 

 substances In cigarette saoke and that low tar and nicotine cigarettes are 

 "safer*. As noted by the National Academy of Sciences, 



"For tlw Btnuf acturers , reducing tar arid nicotine has proved an 

 important marketing tool to reach an increasingly health-conscious 

 public and to reduce criticism in the biomedical community, without 

 serious economic loss to Interests dependent on tobacco sales.' 



The cigarette Industry has always tried to alleviate fears about dangers 

 to health in order to sell its product, and the promotion of low tar and 



