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Mr. Kessler. There are some fortified alcohol — fortified wines for 

 example Congressman that have been of concern to a number 

 of 



Mr. McMillan. What is the natural alcohol content of a malt 

 whiskey. 



Mr. Kessler. Congressman, I would be happy to supply that for 

 the record. I don't have that. 



Mr. McMillan. Is there a natural content of alcohol. Isn't that 

 manipulated by the manner in which you distill it? 



Mr. Kessler. I have talked to our colleagues at BATF about the 

 process and with the exception of the alcohol fortified wines, they 

 don't view, in fact, the distillation process, as far as adjustments 

 to alcohol levels, but I would be happy to supply that and look into 

 that question. 



Mr. McMillan. I would submit to you that the general public 

 understands there is a wide difference in the alcohol content of dif- 

 ferent products that they have a choice of consuming and 



Mr. Kessler. But as I understand it, that is a natural result of 

 the distillation process. 



Mr. McMillan. But over time, these are things that we have 

 manipulated to achieve a desired result and no one would drink a 

 so-called alcoholic beverage if it didn't have alcohol in it. 



Mr. Kessler. Congressman, the issue on manipulating, the ciga- 

 rette industry has come before you and said they do not manipu- 

 late or control nicotine delivery in cigarettes. If what 



Mr. McMillan. I don't think they have said that exactly. 



Mr. Kessler. Again, certainly the record could stand. 



Mr. McMillan. You said did not control. I think they basically 

 said that they do try to control it. 



Mr. Kessler. That they do try to control. 



Mr. McMillan. That was in response to a question that nicotine 

 content in a cigarette does not exceed what occurs naturally in the 

 product of which it is made, the blend of which it is made. Have 

 you found evidence that they have exceeded in a total blend of a 

 cigarette, a nicotine content that is in excess of the constituent 

 products that make it up? 



Mr. Kessler. Well, obviously, the sum is going to be the total of 

 what makes it up. Congressman. The question is how you — let me 

 show you some cigarettes over time. Actually, let me show you one 

 variety 



Mr. McMillan. No, just answer my question. Do you have evi- 

 dence of a cigarette being produced that has a nicotine content in 

 excess of the constituent blends of tobacco that make it up? 



Mr. Kessler. Obviously, your sum can't — ^your total can't be 

 more than the sum of your products, Congressman. Let me 

 show 



Mr, McMillan. What standard, then, are you measuring them 

 under. 



Mr. Kessler. Let me show some examples, Congressman. Could 

 we go to the percent figures? 



Mr. McMillan. I can't read your writing. 



Mr. Kessler. I will be happy to read it. 



Mr. McMillan. Just zero in on one. 



