Labeling & Warnings

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When a particular government requires us to place a health warning on our cigarette packs, we comply strictly - this includes the language of the warning and the manner of display. We believe very strongly that adult smokers should be appropriately informed about the risks of smoking when they make the decision to smoke. Therefore, we voluntarily place a health warning on all our cigarette packs and advertising - even if we are not required to do so by law.

Health Warnings today:

UK -- Smoking seriously damages health
France -- Nuit gravement à la santé
Italy -- Nuoce gravemente alla salute

It is our policy to comply with legal requirements with respect to warnings on packs. However, we argue that proposals for warning labels should have a reasonable scientific basis and the format and placement of the warning should not detract unnecessarily from the package configuration.

Use of descriptors

Some authorities have suggested that the use of terms such as "lights, "low-tar", "ultra light", and "mild" may have the direct or indirect effect of conveying the impression that a particular tobacco product is less harmful than others.Our position is clear: smoking a cigarette - any cigarette - carries real risks of disease, and no one should smoke without being aware of these risks. Thus we make no such health claims for any of our products. Rather, we use such terms to distinguish the taste characteristics of our different brand styles. We strongly believe that such terms are important to help consumers make their choice. They may also be a critical part of our intellectual property.