558 



Mr. Waxman. Thank you very much, Mr. Campbell. We do have 

 questions, but we're going to hear from all of the witnesses before 

 members on the panel ask their questions. Mr. James Johnston? 

 Please pull the microphone in front of you? 



TESTIMONY OF JAMES W. JOHNSTON 



Mr. James Johnston. Good morning, Mr. Chairman, members of 

 the subcommittee. Again, I am Jim Johnston, chairman and chief 

 executive officer of RJ Reynolds Tobacco Company. I appreciate 

 this opportunity to discuss a number of important issues concern- 

 ing the tobacco industry. 



I am proud to be here to day to speak for the 45 million adults 

 who choose to smoke, and the growers, retailers, and the other 2.3 

 million Americans who are part of the tobacco industry. I am proud 

 to represent the more than 10,000 people at Reynolds Tobacco, who 

 are dedicated to making the best cigarettes that we can make. 



My company and I take very seriously the allegations that have 

 leveled against us. And I would like the record to clearly show that 

 Reynolds Tobacco does not spike its products with nicotine. In fact, 

 our process results in the loss of nicotine. We do not add, or other- 

 wise manipulate nicotine to addict smokers. Finally, there is no 

 justification for the FDA to regulate cigarettes as a drug. 



I also want to talk to you about the real issue before the Amer- 

 ican people and this subcommittee. The real issue is, should ciga- 

 rettes be outlawed? Let's make no mistake about it, the goal of the 

 anti-smoking industry is to bring back prohibition. This morning I 

 intend to show you how they hope to achieve that goal. 



But, first, I want to address the charge that Re3molds Tobacco 

 manipulates the level of nicotine in its products, the implication is 

 that we are somehow doing something sinister to addict smokers 

 or to keep them addicted. We do not. 



We do reduce the amount of nicotine in our products. We do mon- 

 itor and measure tar and nicotine yields because we are required 

 to publish those figures in our advertising. And we do maintain the 

 consistent taste and quality of our brands which our customers ex- 

 pect. But we do not do anything to hook smokers or to keep them 

 hooked. 



Let me repeat, we do not manipulate nicotine to addict smokers. 

 We no more manipulate nicotine in cigarette than coffee manufac- 

 turers manipulate caffeine in their products. There is nothing sin- 

 ister about it. 



I think the subcommittee should also be aware that Dr. Kessler's 

 definition of addiction would classify most coffee, cola, and tea 

 drinkers as addicts, caffeine addicts. Many people experience a 

 strong urge for a cup of coffee each morning, and there is a well- 

 documented physical withdrawal syndrome associated with the con- 

 sumption of coffee and cafFeinated soft drinks. 



Nonetheless, I seriously doubt that the American public would 

 say that these characteristics put caffeine in the same class as ad- 

 dictive drugs such as cocaine and heroin. And I don't think anyone 

 would seriously suggest that the FDA consider regulating coffee, 

 tea, or soda as drugs, even though soft drink manufacturers rou- 

 tinely add caffeine to their products. 



