News | More Resources | Home | Conferences

Annotations of documents gleaned from the British American Tobacco Company (BATCO) and BAT Industries documents at the Minnesota Tobacco Industry Document Depository. There are twenty-six boxes, (18 from BATCO, and 8 from BAT Industries (mainly financial statements, which should be of interest to those tracking industry structure). The material in Minnesota represent about ten percent of a larger cache in Guildford, England, also now open to the public. The box numbers here refer only to this Minnesota Select Set but the Bates numbers should be equivalent.

1. First, 5^th and 6th drafts of a position paper, Neil Sinclair of Rothmans sent to Gallaher, Ltd., for review, January 1991, "Addiction – The Scientific Evidence," BAT (File no. AQ0789) 400100654 - 661, and 400100504 - 520.

   (Usual industry discussion; the term addiction is meaningless, smoking equated to rugby playing, television watching or chocolate eating, smokers smoke for "benefits," they are not hard drug users, half of all smokers have quit, etc.)

   Notable quotes: "The majority of smokers experience the same difficulty in quitting that most experience when ceasing any well liked repetitive activity.... [quitting is] a rational and reasoned choice that smokers make and periodically review." [NB. The 6^th draft uses the words "periodically renew."]

   Letter from A.I. Nelmes to Sinclair, 3 January 1991 (BAT 400100653) notes, "We would like to see this document form the scientific provenance that TAC could use to counter the European Commission’s proposed warning."

2. Position paper, P.N. Lee, 3 June 1993, "Relationship between type of cigarette smoked and diseases other than cancer of the lung," BAT (File no. AQ789) 400100617 - 630.

   (Reviews the literature, indicates smokers of blond – flue cured – cigarettes have less cancer in various organs than smokers of black – air-cured cigarettes. Much less reduction in diseases like chronic bronchitis, atherosclerosis, ulcers.)

3. Position paper, 2 November 1987, D.E. Creighton, "The significance of pH in tobacco and tobacco smoke," BAT (File AQ100) 400237344 - 360.

   (Equivalent to Box 9, item 1, June 1988, BAT (File no. BF 1651) 500104404 - 422.)

4. Focus group research report, July 1987, Markt-Consult (Hamburg) for BAT UK & Export Ltd, "Project Alpha (Capri), BAT (File no. AQ1023) 400208386 - 397.

   (Eight Swiss, Finnish and British groups organized by gender and type of cigarettes smoked. Women preferred the "ultra slim shape" of Capri. Smokers liked the lower sidestream as it would be less annoying to non-smokers. Smokers understood that this low tar cigarette to be "healthier/less harmful.")

5. "Marketing Presentation," 1988 or 1989, "Bigott" Company and brand, apparently from Venezuela, BAT (File no. AQ1177) 400460219 - 265.

   (Very fuzzy copies of overhead transparencies. Against a declining smoking incidence (1968-1988), larger population but eroding economy, concern about declining sales of Mercado, Bigott, and Catana brands, competing against BEB, Consul and Marlboro -- the top brands. Presentation speaks of a "Revised Industry Agreement" to avoid government intervention, reduce excise tax, agreement on price structure, lobby government, compete against Marlboro. [NB. This is an agreement between BATCO and one of its operating companies.]

   Notable quotes: "Agreement void if Philip Morris becomes top [unreadable]. Agreement to last three years."

6. Secret Product Development Conference, Montreal, 22-24 August 1990, copies numbered (this is copy no. 5), BAT (File no. AQ 1118) 400459297 - 343.

   (BATCO, Brown and Williamson, BATCF, Souza Cruz, Imperial are represented. High priorities for all companies for research and development are: a lower tar/nicotine ratio via Project GREENDOT {NB. "GREENDOT" refers to the project to produce an alternative part- tobacco product in which nicotine can be more readily separated from tar.], compete against Marlboro, understand more about smokers and smoking behavior, reducing bitter flavor and irritants, additives and tobacco smoke chemistry, low-sidestream smoke cigarette, Bio cigarette ("other noxae"), bioassays. Priority for two companies only include reduced ignition potential, for one company, low or no nicotine cigarette. Reduced fire-hazard cigarettes only where regulatory pressures exist.)

   Notable quotes: "Y1 Product development... low tar with taste and satisfaction...changing tar and nicotine ratio by genetically engineered tobacco...group priority specific to B&W.... Chemical and biochemical modifications to achieve superior product. Development of alternative ammonia sources. Group priority: Need to coordinate all efforts in group to investigate what gives Marlboro its unique product and market leadership position.... Investigate the potential benefits of Ammonia Technology in Va [Virginia] and Mod Va products.... Understand consumer effort/reward behaviour. Can be measured and is highly responsive to cigarette design (quality and time impact of nicotine). Increasing importance of human smoking vs machine smoking deliveries.... Determine the significance of impact versus nicotine dose on consumer smoking style – smoking behaviour and sensory perception.... Chemosensory research...physical processes in the smoker that explain physiological response.... Environmental Tobacco Smoke (ETS).... To investigate...fundamental aspects of Environmental Tobacco Smoke (ETS), in order to provide an information base useful to public affairs initiatives...defensive strategy for public affairs.... Overt novel non-tobacco flavours for the modification of mainstream and/or sidestream sensory properties.... Only a high priority for Souza Cruz and Imperial Tobacco."

7. Marketing strategy paper, no date, unsigned, "Benson and Hedges," BAT (File no. AQ1121) 400477642 - 655.

   (Exposition of how to move the image of Benson and Hedges brand away from it’s staid "Clubman" appeal, which also appeals to aspiring male "Norms," to a woman’s-appeal cigarette, as part of "up-market socialising." Suggests keying off the Gold 25s, something like Milds 30s.)

   Notable quotes: "Little growth can be expected from these loyal sources. Both groups are heavily ‘male’ biased and they are getting older. In many ways, they represent the cigarette world of yesterday, rather than the market of tomorrow." "CONTEMPORARIES ...are extremely health-conscious.... rather embarrassed about being a smoker per se.... they don’t really like smoking. And a surprising large number of them are sure they’ll quit smoking in the not too distant future.... they’re not committed smokers. And there-in lies the rub."

   "THE WORLD OF COURTING FEMALE SMOKERS. The historical strengths of the BENSON and HEDGES brand franchise are also somewhat of an Achilles’ Heel when it comes to attracting females (and especially young female) smokers.

8. Letter from unknown to Philip Fischer of Brown and Williamson (only page one available), 20 February 1991, BAT (File no. AQ1130) 400124003.

   (About the use of Y1 tobacco.)

   Notable quote: "Here is the information on Y1 and Madura experiences in Southampton.... Y1 is being evaluated in several product/process development projects within B.T.C. 1. As part of Project BAIZE a blend variant containing 15% Y1 tip and cutter grades has been produced along with 4 other (non-Y1) blends. The cigarettes for thi sproject have been manufactured and are undergoing full physiological/chemical and sensory evaluation. Results are expected by April 1991. This project is concerned with developing a 7mg US Blended product with the sensory characteristics of a full-flavour product. 2. Y1 tobacco has been used as a significant blend component in Project GREENDOT [NB. See item 6.] 1mg delivery products. Y1 is seen to be extremely useful in this project on two counts: (a) it allows the product tar/nicotine ratio to be altered at this low delivery to give a 1mg tar to 0.2 - 0.3 nicotine format so enhancing impact at ultra-low delivery, and (b) it is a tobacco which can be effectively DIET treated, retaining high nicotine levels and good particle strand length. Because of these attributes blends have been produced in GREENDOT with up to 10% Y1 tobacco."

9. Memo by B.C. Harding, 1 November 1988, "Coumarin and coumarin substitutes - Caracas 1988," BAT (File no. AQ1156) 400641058 - 060.

   (Bigott Company’s best brand Belmont exposed in a "small local" Venezuelan newspaper as having coumarin, a flavoring agent and possible carcinogen. BATCO decides to remove coumarin and related compounds from all its 162 brands spread over 31 operating companies in the world.)

10. Research and Development file note, L.C. Chao, 16 December 1988, "Airbus/499," BAT

    (File no. AQ1454) 400167579 - 580.

    (All the ways nicotine/volatiles can be increased in the aerosol from heated tobacco. Y1 tobacco, less dense tobacco, lower temperature, PE [polyethyleneimine] DAP treatment, levulinic acid, sugar and alumina trihydrate to lower the temperature.)

11. Confidential hand-written note from W.D.E. Irwin to T. Hirji, 1 December 1988, "Greendot," BAT (File no. AQ1454) 400167951.

    (Irwin is cited in Stanton Glantz, et al. The Cigarette Papers (Berkeley: University of California Press, 1996), pp. 405-6, as discussing research to lessen side-stream smoke in a 1983 memo. This note discusses alternatives to standard tobacco cigarettes being attempted by BAT.)

    Notable quote: "You have seen my note on this and I.C.D. [?mfg.]. Other communications on this will be verbal, but I want to emphasize the following to you. High inorganic substitutes failed in the 25% inclusion level in the 1970s. Nicotine variants were considered, as were higher levels. We now seem to be going for very high levels, perhaps 100%. I think there is some obligation to the organization to rationalise why they think they can go substantially beyond the levels which failed in the 70s."

12. Memo from W.D.E. Irwin to I.C. Brown, 8 November 1988, "Greendot," BAT (File no. AQ1454) 400167958 - 560.

    (Technical discussion on producing cigarettes with low tar and substantially reduced sidestream yields, which would necessarily impact on what the smoker inhales, especially nicotine. Mention of a "HINIC" low tar taste project with Silk Cut.)

    Notable quotes: "Without the sidestream constraint, there would be more choice in how the mainstream deliveries would be achieved.... This argues for methods to maximise mainstream nicotine transfer including known routes – alkaline filters and increasing the proportion of filler burned to mainstream, though the latter will increase mainstream generally, not just nicotine."

13. Series of hand-written notes and doodles, no date or author although mention of "compensation" puts it in the late 70s or early 80s. BAT (File no. AQ1454) 400168177 - 181.

    Notable quotes: "HINIC project objective. To design an acceptable product at 0.8 mg nicotine and minimum tar possible. Assumption is that this product will require less compensation than conventional product. Ideal tar delivery 4-5 mg. Measure of success compensation Business obj: Regulatory authority EEC Degree of freedom Expanded tobacco option Nicotine dosing Nicotine extracted from tobacco and added back to tobacco is OK but to add back to non-tobacco – or from bottle problematic [here a large doodle "1968 MEDICINE ACT]....

    Research project (i) 1 and 0.8 mg nic ( ii) Must have tobacco (iii) extract nicotine from tobacco

    keep clear of moving into pharmaceutical industry...."

14. Memo, no author, 1987, "Alternative products and highly modified products," BAT (File no. AQ1454) 400168220 - 222.

    (Alternative products to get around the limitation of fairly fixed tar/nicotine ratios based on taste and impact and linkage of the two in the leaf. Author recommends that a "cigarette-like device should be taken to the absolute limit," with lots of inorganic material, tobacco extracts and flavors.)

    Notable quotes: "The review (Report No. RD. 2077) has shown that a nicotine:tar ratio of about 1:8 is the maximum attainable by conventional means. Is the limit sufficient to meet BAT’s future requirements?.... Gori’s data has shown that all smokers obtain nicotine equivalent to an avereage of 0.8 mg nicotine per cigarette, irrespective of design and tar yield. This should be a target nicotine delivery per cigarette.

15. Memo from Richard Binns (Research and Development Centre) to various, 4 June 1987, "Project GREENDOT," BAT (File no. AQ1454) 400168228.

    (Describes project to create an alternative cigarette, somewhere between a regular cigarette and a totally non-tobacco cigarette.)

    Notable quote: "GREENDOT should be a form of cigarette, with a highly modified tar-to- nicotine ratio.... For discussion, suggested target deliveries for GREENDOT should be 5 mg tar/ ca. 1 mg nicotine and 1 mg tar/ ca. 1 mg nicotine.... maximum pleasure with minimum tar.... [analogous to] alcohol-free lagers."

16. Research note, G. Scherer, 23 January 1979, "Cocarcinogenic effect of nicotine," BAT (File no. AQ2220) 400741674 - 680.

    (Concern that nicotine metabolites could be carcinogenic, demonstrated in animal studies here.. Nitrosamines are formed from nicotine.)

17. Memo from Sharon Boyse to T.G.Mitchell, 20 July 1988, BAT (File no. AQ2220) 400741692.

    Notable quote: "Further to our telephone conversation earlier today, Alan Heard has asked me to prepare an opinion on restrictions on adding nicotine to tobacco, particularly in the context of nicotine-fortified sheet material. The conclusions of primary interest are, of course, our major markets: US Germany Canada Australia Switzerland Belgium Holland Finland France (UK). Would it be possible for you to write a note on the relevant restrictions on additives/health and safety/poisons etc. in those countries....."

18. A series of memos responding to the newspaper article from the Sunday Independent 27 February 1994 (400741448) on the FDA charge that American cigarette companies were "spiking" tobacco with extra nicotine.

    (In File no. AQ2220 are BAT 400741444-445, 400741436, 400741446-447, 400741434 - 435 denying any deliberate spiking. An 8 March memo 400741446 acknowledges that complex flavours from certain suppliers do indeed contain tobacco extracts, but that the amounts of nicotine are very low, 0.0001%. However, nicotine sulphate as a denaturant for alcohol might have higher levels in some Operating Companies around the world.)

    Notable quote (T.G. Mitchell to N. Davies Esq., Staines), "There are very few possibilities for change to the denaturant used and it would be necessary to ensure any change met the requirements of individual country customs department. Unless there is clear evidence that sensitivity over this issue requires it, I do not recommend any change to the current practices."

    [NB. But see item 17, from 1988 – Mitchell already knew about nicotine "spiking."]

19. Press release, 28 February 1994, "FDA Classifies Nicotine as Drug / Nicotine in Tobacco," BAT (File No. AQ2220) 400741450 - 451.

    Notable quote: "Brown & Williamson does not increase the amount of nicotine in tobacco."

20. Tobacco Strategy Review Meeting memo, no author, 16 August 1991, "Progress on use of Y1 Tobacco," BAT (File no. AQ2305) 400316864.

    (Y1 being tested in various cigarettes under Project BAIZE, seemed to outperform with smokers against Marlboro Red and Gold. Also Y1 is part of Project GREENDOT, with up to 25% Y1.)

21. Research report No. T.215, C. Abley, 7 December 1989, "A preliminary examination of the influence of mechanics and delivery characteristics on smoking behavior," BAT (File no. AQ2327) 400353238 - 255.

    (Demonstrates "compensation," to achieve standard levels of nicotine.)

22. Report, probably 1993, response to New Zealand Department of Health requirement under the Smoke-Free Environments Act 1990 to declare all additives in cigarettes, "Proposed additives list for New Zealand, BAT (File no. AQ2443) 400996056 - 6099.

    (List runs up to 2,183 items.)

23. Memo from G. Smith to A..L.. Heard, 18 January 1988, "Progress on Assessment of Smoke Biological Activity," BAT (File no. AQ2598) 400551571 - 572.

    (Notes that chromosome damage assay will complement the Ames test for mutagenesis and potential carcinogenicity.)

24. Literature review, P.N. Lee, 11 February 1982, " ‘Compensation’ in relation to changing type of cigarette. A summary of some of the available evidence and some tentative conclusions," BAT (File no. AQ2602) 400778614 - 622.

    (Industry consultant statistician Lee concludes that compensation brings about nearly equivalent nicotine levels in blood but increases the amount of carbon monoxide (CO) binding to hemoglobin; and that companies should try reduce CO in order to avoid cardiovascular disease. Of course, the companies were soon to be busy controlling their public relations, avoiding regulation, and downplaying the effort to create safer products; see Glantz, et al. Cigarette Papers, pp. 135, 167-68.)

25. Restricted memos, no author, 18 June and 7 September 1990, "Rationale for current fundamental research projects," BAT (File no. AQ2677) 400756376 and 400756385 - 386.

    (Research into tar/nicotine ratio reduction, sidestream smoke, chemosensory research, ETS, reduced ignition potential, additive chemistry, etc. done basically to meet or head off regulatory requirements and for public relations.)

    Notable quotes: "The rationale underlying fundamental research is: (i) anticipation of regulatory needs and the ability to alter products to meet those requirements."

26. Memo and policy notes from Richard Baker (Senior Scientist) to E. Kohnhorst (VP Research) of Brown and Williamson, 21 December 1992, BAT (File no. AQ2700) 400500674 - 697, and to B.D. Bramley, a senior executive.

    (See Glantz, et al., Cigarette Papers, pp. 275-76 for Baker who was concerned about what staffers from BAT affiliated companies could say publicly without jeopardizing the company in US lawsuits; and multiple pages on Kohnhorst who designed much of BAT’s defensive strategies from a marketing rather than scientific perspective: "I do not see involving ourselves in designing products with the limited objective of reducing CO in the near future unless marketing needs dictate otherwise." – p. 168. Baker’s notes complain about BAT’s lagging scientific program as compared to RJR and PM, especially in the areas of a fire-safe cigarette and ETS, indicating that BAT is not serious about its science to combat restrictions.)

    Notable quotes: "A situation builds up in the outside world, either regulatory drive or by competition. RJR and PM always get involved in a big way at an early stage. BAT takes a ‘wait and see’ attitude and finally jumps in late, sometimes with a big effort and often a panic attitude. As soon as the situation has apparently passed, the research is immediately stopped or reduced to a low effort." "Research and development has been conducted on sidestream modification and environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) in BAT for about twelve years, having gone through several stop/start cycles..... In spite of all this, the work has failed to have any tangible effect on legislation or public attitudes on passive smoking." "Reduced visibility is only a partial solution – many of the irritants...are in the invisible gas phase." "In April 1990 the ETS programme was reduced in scope.... This work was finally stopped two years later." "Whilst public affairs initiatives must be at the sharp end of our defence, the issue itself is primarily based on science."

    (From a letter by Baker to B.D. Bramley, Staines, Milbank, 19 October 1992, BAT 400500690:)

    "During the last few months BAT has deliberately destroyed the research facility in Southampton, a facility which the rest of the tobacco industry holds in high esteem.... I believe that the current BAT view on research...is ill advised and will be to the long term detriment of BAT. There are important areas, e.g. ignition propensity, which we can and should be working in."

27. Letter from Alejandro Gomez of Cigarrera Bigott, Venezuela to Barry Harding and response,

    12 May 1993, 17 May, "Calculation of nicotine transfer," BAT (File no. AQ2791) 400383497 - 501.

    (Operating Company person asks help in developing a new nicotine transfer process and how to calculate it.)

    Notable quotes: "Bigott’s R&D Department is currently in the process of studying alternatives in an effort to find a substitution for RCB. During the RCB process, Philip Morris uses Ammonia Technology (Root Technology) which provides a better nicotine balance in the blend as well as improving the nicotine transference." Harding responds: "Nicotine transfer.... is the percentage of the consumed nicotine that is transferred to the smoker under standard machine smoking conditions." (Nicotine delivery divided by nicotine weight in the cigarette, about 8%.)

28. Hand-written notes by RLP (R.L.Prowse), no date but probably circa 1990, "Prog. For Project Tar Modiac. Brown Dot. What we need in smoke," BAT (File no. AQ2830) 400508163 - 165.

    (Continued search for what will deliver nicotine better.)

    Notable quotes: "Nicotine/aerosol for ‘hit’, mouthfull, etc. Where should aerosol come from and what should it be? Humectants ruled out as aerosol however, they also helped sheet formation, & to ‘condition sheet. Sheet needs to be plasticisized, [therefore] urea. Plasticiser [arrow] TRIACETIM- already present in smoke - glycerol - triacetate - DOES IT DISSOLVE NICOTINE?"

29. Project proposal, R. L. Prowse, 8 November 1990, "Tar Modification," BAT (File no. AQ2830) 400508196 - 198.

    (An extension of Project GREENDOT, to improve cast sheet materials cotaining a large proportion of tobacco, and to assess chemical treatments of tobacco on smoke composition, and investigate various materials that release flavor into the smoke. Phenomenal technology -- encapsulation, microcapsulation, cage molecules, tobacco extracts -- all in the service to "balance smoke taste and flavor." Baker was correct, see item 25.)

30. Research report, Brown and Williamson R&D-B030-88, R.R. Johnson, 22 July 1988, "Further studies on nicotine containing tobacco substitutes," BAT (File no. AQ2830) 400508199 - 216.

    (Development of a high-nicotine – up to 1.8 mg transported – non-tobacco cigarette. For reasons unstated, despite promising results, the research is dropped.)

    Notable quotes: "The conclusion was that such a product is feasible, but more useful for chemosensory/analytical research than for incorporation into our commercial cigarettes.... BAT workers in Southampton are following up on this work in connection with Project GREENDOT. We have no immediate plans to continue development of nicotine-containing tobacco substitutes."

31. Memo by Sam R. Evelyn, 9 June 1967, "Addition of nicotine to synthetic smoking materials," BAT (File no. AQ2874) 400319291 - 296.

    (Demonstrates understanding of "free base" nicotine, its optimal delivery to the smoker, addition of nicotine to the cigarette paper over 30 years ago. See also Glantz, et al., Cigarette Papers, pp. 78-79.)

32. Memo, by P.J. Mitchell, 23 February 1976, "BATFLAKE," BAT (File no. AQ2875) 400292101 - 102.

    (Ready to launch but "Legal, political and health criteria exclude the U.K. and the U.S.A. from initial consideration." Suggest Canada, South Africa or Venezuela.)

    Notable quote: "The introduction of BATFLAKE may be seen as part of the smoking and health problem."

33. Industry analysis, R.L. Prowse, 16 February 1988, "Some observations on Reynolds’ ‘smokeless" cigarette patents and some ideas for research on this and other areas," BAT (File no. AQ2877) 400520518 - 522.

    (Decides that Reynolds will have trouble in selling a completely non-tobacco nicotine-delivery product as it would reflect unfavorably on their tobacco brands -- likens it to BAT’s 1960s Project Ariel -- goes on to suggest way of using reconstituted tobacco with encapsulated flavors and additives. The Reynolds product is probably Eclipse, launched in 1994.)

34. Research report, NO. RD. 2077, P.C. Bevan, 14 May 1987, "A review of the factors influencing nicotine/tar ratio in mainstream smoke," BAT (File no. AQ2910) 400493381 - 398.

    (Blend and ventilation increase the ratio. High blend nicotine (including Y1), high ventilation, and also alkaline pH can give a ratio three times that of a "full flavour" product, e.g. Barclay’s.)

    Notable quote: "Technologically, design of a high NTR product anywhere in the 1-10 mg tar range is possible immediately. Subjectively, it is not clear how NTR should vary with tar delivery to give ‘acceptable’ smoking characteristics at any given delivery level."

35. Research review, D.E. Creighton, 2 November 1987, "The significance of pH in Tobacco and Tobacco smoke," BAT (File no. AQ2999) 400495610 - 636, an earlier version of BAT (File no. BF 1651) 500104404 - 422, June 1988, annotated in BATDOC1, Box 9, item 1.

36. Research report, J.A. Luke, D.A. Matkin (Munro), October 1988, "Project Airbus," BAT (File no. AQ3118) 400478104 - 116, and 400478133 - 142 (hand-written draft).

    (Engineering design of a nearly non-tobacco cigarette with a carbon-based fuel element, an aerosol and flavour generating section, a tobacco-nicotine section and filter. Concept similar to RJR’s Premier brand.)

37. Letter from R.R. Johnson (replying on behalf of E. Kohnhorst) to Richard Baker, 20 March 1987, BAT (File no. AQ3233) 400582705 - 706.

    (Baker had written about nicotine/tar ratios. Johnson reassures him that work on "very high alkaloids Y grades of tobaccos" continues as well as "mild ammonia treatment" and addition of an ameliorant lactic acid.)

38. Research report GF-008-77X, R.R. Johnson, 23 February 1977, "Effects of light ammonia treatment on cigarette smoke properties," BAT (File no. AQ3233) 400582710 - 725.

    (See Glantz, et al., Cigarette Papers, pp. 78-80 for earlier work by Johnson and BAT on enhancing nicotine delivery. This research showed, however, that moderate ammonia treatment failed to increase nicotine delivery because poor filter design filtered the nicotine out. Extreme ventilation filters suggested.)

39. Research presentation, K&M Company, Torrance, California, November 1990, "Y1. High nicotine flue cured tobacco," BAT (file no. AQ3539) 400364583 - 589.

    (Introducing high nicotine tobacco "for increased satisfaction at lower tar." Ratio 8-10 compared to conventional full flavor cigarettes at 12-14. Launch planned for 1/91.)

    Notable quotes: "Y1 tobacco planted offshore to equivalent 1.4 million pounds of strip."

40. Industry analysis, no author, circa 1990, "Premier in retrospect, " BAT (File no. AQ3539) 400364571 - 582.

    (RJR’s "smokeless cigarette" failed. Market tests showed smokers too put off by unpleasant taste and aroma, and artificiality, also confusing promotion and explanation. RJR was trying to avoid FDA regulation and so positioned Premier as a cigarette, put on the defensive by anti-smoking organizations who called Premier a "drug-delivery device." When KKR-Nabisco took over, Premier pulled.)

    Notable quotes: "...minimal effect of advertising and promotion on awareness." "Some smokers intimidated by instruction booklet, making them apprehensive of the product." [NB. Curious that an industry so adept at tobacco chemistry, cigarette design, advertising and promotion should have been so inept with this product. One could be persuaded that it was meant to fail.]

41. Market research by "Strategy in Focus" (U.K.), circa 1990, for BAT "Project GREENDOT...Attitudinal monitors and product concept tests," BAT (File no. AQ3543) 400364633 - 774.

    (Studies done in Switzerland and West Germany. They conclude that for smokers artificial delivery tubes sacrifice too much taste and flavor even if offering less health risk. A very low tar and nicotine cigarette that still gave taste and "satisfaction" would be preferred, with safety and social acceptability as added benefits. Discuss relaunch of German "HB" franchise with a "washing out" communication that provides the promotional campaign for a product that doesn’t exist and is probably impossible to make!)

    Notable quotes: "Highest quality tobaccos washed in pure spring water to remove, naturally, most of the nicotine and tar potential while retaining the full flavor and satisfaction of a conventional cigarette. At the same time side stream smoke is substantially reduced by the process of washing the tobacco." "Achieving a product that matches this specification is of course the task – a stretching one – for R&D."

42. Summary of discussions by C.C. Greig, P.C. Bevan, R.G. Hook, early 1990s, "Discussions on ‘no tar/low tar’ products, " BAT (File no. AQ3600) 40048790 - 793.

    (BAT’ research ranged from non-burning nicotine delivery devices – Favor, Airbus – to very low tar/nicotine GREENDOT with low "biological activity." Latter was modified to tobacco reconstituted materials – Warsaw and NATO (nearly all tobacco option). Discussions suggest that the scientists are waiting for clear direction from management on future directions.)

43. Position paper, F.J.C. Roe, 14 October 1993, "future directions for health research," BAT (File no. AQ3915) 400500869 - 883.

    (Senior consulting scientist to BAT, cancer researcher, reviews the history of health research by the industry.)

    Notable quotes: "It was never likely that research which lead to the production of a non- carcinogenic cigarette would also lead to a cigarette that was both smokable and free from the potential of increasing other health risks, particularly those of cardiovascular disease and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease." "...The results to date seem to point more toward there being a susceptible majority as distinct from a susceptible minority [to smoking-induced cancer]." "... High-risk lung cancer families are likely to account for no more than a negligible proportion of the total number of lung cancer cases." "...All aspects of smoking- associated diseases need to be studied directly in humans."

44. Report from BATUKE (BAT UK Export) , no author, 1988, "Technical Support Activities. Legislative Issues," BAT (File no. AQ5435) 400650041 - 043.

    (Blames the League Tables, measuring tar and nicotine delivery by machine, for the competitive race to produce low tar cigarettes on the alleged grounds of being "safer".)

    Notable quotes: "Low delivery cigarettes are inherently less satisfying. Consumers reach a position of ‘trade-off’ in a league table between a perceived need for safer smoking and a physiological need for nicotine-rleated smoking benefits." [NB. It seems likely that for established smokers much the "benefit" is the reduction of the craving induced by nicotine in the first place.] "Smoking behavioural studies have been tused to demonstrate that middle tar smokers, when confronted by low tar products, smoke more intensively as well as taking more frequent puffs. Measurement of blood nicotine levesl suggests very strongly that consumers smoke products to achieve a particular ‘dose’ of nicotine, provided that the design of the product does not create an unacceptable level of effort in doing so." "Finally, in responding to the competitive pressure to reduce smoking deliveries that emerges from a league table’s presence, it is generally prudent to reduce deliveries in a programmed way, i.e. involving a large number of small steps, each one undetectable to the consumer."

45. Extensive reviews of tests on animals of the pesticide methoprene used on tobacco 1987 - 1989, BAT (File no. AQ5555) 400545019 - 024, 400545040 - 088.

    (Francis Roe on 8 October 1987 wrote, "From both an ethical and from a duty-of-care viewpoint, I have, at this time, to recommend against the incorporation of MP-treated tobacco in cigarettes."

    Ironically, the results in various animal models were far less conclusive than the research on normal cigarette constituents.)

46. Qualitative research, Scope Company (Zurich) for BATUKE, January 1993, "NERO Product concept test, " two pages only of 24+ page report, BAT (File no. AQ5962) 400778007 - 011.

    (Describes why young persons start smoking. Most do so at age 17 or 18. Do it for "social identity, start with Camel or Marlboro as "entry brands," to feel grown up and rebellious at the same time, to overcome insecurity, and also because of advertising.)

    Notable quotes: "Other motives for starting to smoke can be interpreted as a taking over of advertising models and integration into ones own concept of values.... the signal of smoking could be unequivocally positively charged, sicne it represented a secure value for social prestige (urbanity, success, modern living, strength of personality)."