Tobacco Documents Online

This 1977 report from British American Tobacco (BAT) entitled Smoking Behavior (Low Delivery Cigarettes), reports on a study that examined the changes in the smoking behavior of smokers who switch from high tar and nicotine cigarettes to "light" cigarettes. The human subjects used in the experiment were employees of BAT's Research and Development department, so all results were kept completely internal. The report clearly shows a marked increase in the intensity with which smokers smoke the "low tar" brands:

"Measurements show that both low delivery brands were smoked...with a much greater intensity than the subjects' usual brand...Compared to machine smoking, on average about twice as much smoke was taken from each cigarette by the panel, in about half the time."

The report also shows BAT was aware of how smokers defeat the features of "light" cigarettes designed to dilute the smoke by entraining more air:

"...There were some observed abuses of the cigarette design...It was observed that at least one subject learned that by placing the cigarette further into the mouth, the ventilation holes could be covered up and smoke deliveries increased. It was also noted that the fingers used to hold the cigarettes could be conveniently placed to cover up some of the ventilation holes. One subject was seen to cover the ventilation holes with clear adhesive tape..."

The report also shows that BAT was aware that actual deliveries of tar and nicotine to the smoker from "light" cigarettes differed greatly from the measurements obtained by smoking machines, and that the smokers were taking in much higher amounts of smoke constituents from "light" cigarettes than the machines revealed:

"...The results show that the human smokers used in this test have taken more than twice as much smoke (by volume) from these cigarettes as is taken by a [smoking] machine operating under standard conditions. This is equivalent to about half as much again as was taken from the more usual brand for these smokers..."

This report appears to confirm the recent verdict in Illinois that concluded that smokers were deceived about the relative safety of smoking low-tar, or "light" cigarettes. .