85 



Mr. Kessler. Here, for example, is percent nicotine concentra- 

 tion over time. This is percent nicotine in certain cigarettes over 

 time. In 1952, a Chesterfield was tested in FDA laboratories and 

 the average nicotine concentration was 1.66 percent. 



Mr. McMillan. Was it a filter tip or nonfilter tip? 



Mr. Kessler. I'm sorry? 



Mr. McMillan. Was it a filter tip or nonfilter tip? 



Mr. Kessler. I don't know. I would be happy to go back 



Mr. McMillan. Does it make any diff'erence whether it is a filter 

 tip or nonfilter tip? 



Mr. Kessler. We can discuss it. Let me just show the nicotine 

 concentrations if I may. In 1952, Chesterfield was 1.66. In 1969, a 

 Reference cigarette was 1,56 nicotine. One variety, as I mentioned 

 in the laboratory of an ultrsdow brand cigarette had 1.98 percent 

 nicotine. 



Mr. McMillan. OK. What is good or bad? 



Mr. Kessler. I'm sorry. I can't hear you. I apologize. 



Mr. McMillan. What is acceptable, what is good or bad. What 

 does 1.66 mean relative to 1.96. 



Mr. Kessler. I think there are two issues Congressman, that 

 goes to the issue of whether there was control as you talked about 

 of nicotine levels. If you are going to 



Mr. McMillan. Since you regulate it, is 80 proof bourbon worse 

 than, what, 12 percent alcohol content beer? 



Mr. Kessler. The issue. Congressman, is whether there is ma- 

 nipulation and control of that level. 



Mr. McMillan. All these are manipulated. How do they end 

 up 



Mr. Kessler. And in fact, the issue with alcohol is that alcohol 

 is regulated in certain instances as a food and in certain instances 

 as a drug. 



Mr. McMillan. Well, that brings me to my final question, be- 

 cause the question here is, I don't think it is whether or not there 

 are health hazards to smoking or drinking or whether or not mis- 

 use can be habit forming or addictive, if you will. Clearly they can 

 and they have very different effects. Some have enormous behav- 

 ioral effects you have tried to — alluded to the behavioral effects of 

 nicotine as being a tranquilizer. 



If that's the case, do you think that affected the ability of Win- 

 ston Churchill and Dwight Eisenhower to conduct operations on D- 

 Day? They were heavy smokers. 



Mr. Kessler. Congressman, these were not my words. Those 

 were words of the tobacco industry in comparison 



Mr. McMillan. I think it gets down to what it is we are trying 

 to consider here. I think if you think there is some level at which 

 this needs to be addressed, I think it is up to you to come up with 

 a recommendation and make a proposal and we have not heard 

 anything specific in that respect. 



Mr. Kessler. And we are looking at the question of whether nic- 

 otine is a drug for the purposes of the act. We recognize that as 

 a large question has enormous societal consequences and as we 

 look at that question, we wanted guidance from the Congress. 



Mr. McMillan. WTiat are you going to do, arrive at some point 

 at which nicotine becomes addictive and draw a line at that point? 



