Tobacco Documents Online

THE TOBACCO INSTITUTE, INC. . Inc., 150 East:42nd St'., New York 17, N.Y., (OXford'7-560© FOR INA:EBIATE FtELF.I'1SE (MARCH 7, 1962). George A11en Comments On British Sinoking, Report (Note to~Eiil+tors: The Tobacco Institute, Inc., has been askedito comment on a report from England by the Royal College of Physicians. If youiplan to use a story on.thisireport, the following comment from George V. Allen,, president of.l. the Institute, will be releva.nt. ) a„ r..o-.~` George V, Allen, president of The Tobacco Institute, Inc., in Washington '_- "todya ' issued' the fo3ilowingcosanent', on' a report frcmi 'England''s Rbyal College .:; ,7 ~" of Physicians, which discussed smoking and health; ~ ~ . .. ( . f. ~ . ... . _ - : .. ' .. ~- ' ~ . • ~ . . t . ';This report from England is~ arlmitted2y a review of old data without any new research f:indin,gs. I question whether the report will have any :.. ... ,,. . ,.. _ : ,. . _ . bearing on the situation in the UnitediStates, since the sam e db.ta have ;, ..: .,... .,, been under study here for a long time:. ~ 5 7 d•j~r. "I I am informed that the British reDort contains a number of con tradictions andiinconsistencies. For example, the authors say that tobacco .a~ . .. . .. , r~ . . . . . _ . . is something that 'most smokers enjoy without injury to health'. ''' .:r, ,..• .,. :R~_. . ,. . .. r:. . .,.. ~ .. .. "A,nd yet they suggest a general campaign to discourage everyone from ., "The authors also ignore a large amount of important research into ;.:?5t s, =y t . A .y. ~- s f ;V. x^ many other factors that are being studied These include virusesy environment, ~~ ~f+; ; Yet; previous illnesses, and the basic' differences between individuals, d whether they are smokers or not. 4 t ` Such contradictions are found elsewhere in the report t4, smoking. This is like prohrbiting a particular food for everybody because a Pew people are allergic-to it..0edc.c:~r~t~~ntisr'Oui_a:e rfmorr. V~-" M (. ec. r> >- r t '~'t'i '~t ` - more r •~ .. .. , .*:.a . ..,, . ~ . ... . . .. .. .r ~ /;. ii ~._ S . . , ; w , r ». , .a .. .-

"'T'he United States has been making mnch progress in improving the health of our people. This is reflected in our increasing,longevity and declining death rates for most of'the diseases discussed'in the English report. As research continues, I am sure that we shall find more and better ways to deal with our health problems.

The Associ'ated Fress - March 7, 1962 London -- A committee from Britain's Ftioyal. College of Surgeons reported' today after a two-year study that cigarette smoking may be a'contributing cause of death from a number of diseases besides lung cancer. than 200 other medical inquiries into smoking. Some of the conclusions The nine physicians studied thousands of case histories and examined more public until today. leaked'out several weeks ago but the full 70-page report was not made Here are some of the findings: r.I± t .. _ A :~_. .~..... ..~.:~ .,.~..' . , M1 , .. ., . Y ~ . .. :.-_ . .y..__" . .~ .'~ . . .. -_ .. .. :~. ~.~._... . .. : .. i .~ . . . ' ..:. r ... . ~ .. . ...' '. ., . . .~... ' -, ... Cigarette smoking is the most likely cause of the recent world-wide ,. , ,. . t increase imdeaths from lung cancer. ', :;~ ~ ..- .. . . : . . ~ . : • . , . . ~ . ~ ~ .. . ~ . `t The habit probably increases the risk of death from coronary heart disease, particularly in early middle age. It may be particularly responsible for tuberculosis deaths among elderly men6, Smoking may be a contributory factor in cancer of the mouth, pharynx, esophagus and bladder. "'It may be a reason for the increased mortality from peptic ulcers. It is an important predisposing cause in development oP chronic bronch3tis.. The report`acknowledged'that smoking may have psychological and social benefits. . tt•S. , F•. L_e r 11 , r r ~~trt 1 t-~~T ::k F% .._... ,~ , ;:, ,... •. • . _ - . " .... ;r.,.. a=. . ., . _ . . . . . - . ~It confirmed findings of other medical groups that pipes and cigars are ~less dangerous than cigarettes, probably because the cigarette smoker inhales far more. , ,.,. . . ,,..• . - • . The committee suggestedithat for health's sake the government should boost ,: taxes on cigarettes and lower them on cigars and, pipe tobacco. `' It also had a tip for cigarette smokers who c*an't quit. Throw away a ,^'cigarette when it is hali smokedibecause the unburned portion filters , out most of the injurious matter. Sir Rbbert Platt, the chairman, told the news conference that 20.,000 men. ~;'in Britain died of lung cancer last year, and that deaths among women, 3,00o in 1961, are increasing. - ; ~ SL.£. S . '.. . . . . , ! . . t . . .. ;' _,~, "It's the cigarette smoker who gets cancer of the lung,"'Sir Ftobert said. "These facts are unpleasant and are unpalatable, but they are facts." The British Tobacco Nianazfacturers''Standing Committee promptly issued a' '' statement saying it has cooperated with medical and scientific authorities in studying the relationship~between health and smoking. ,;

a separate report. The statement noted that the medical commi'ttee of physicians andi editors deliberately had excluded questions of air pollution to await cigarettes are not the real culprits. The tobacco manufacturers thought that smoking and air pollution should. be considered together, and that more research may well establish that effects of air pollution," the statement said. . and between one country and another, reflect i'n varying degrees the "'Tfaere is muchievidence to suggest that the striking differences in the incidence of lung cancer and bronchitis between urban and rural areas, tobacco manufacturers, said the "report Prom England is admittedly a review In New York, the Tobacco Institute, an organization snapportediby American oY,old data without any new research findings." i,. . ..,_ ....i:... the report would have any bearing on the situation in the U.S. "since George V. Alleny President of the Institute, said he questioned,whether the same data have been under study here for a long time." He added "the-aiitliors also`ignore'a larg~ ameunt o~ importarit"researchi into many other factors that are being studied!. These include viruses, environment, diet, previous illnesses, and the basi'c differences between individuals, whether they are smokers or not."

United Press International - March 7, 1962 London, March 7 (UPI)--A nine-man committee of'the Royal College of Physicians today asked the government to throw massive financial and moral support behind a drive to curb ciga.rette smoking. A report titled "Smoking and Realth" suggested anti-smoking clinics be set up through6ut England, cigarette advertising be controlled and cigarette taxes be i'ncreased. v .~F ~ i r. . ... . . a . . ... .~~ . • . .. ~. '. --There may be other causes of lung cancer than smoking, but "none of' these explanations fits all the facts as well..."' ._ :., --The chance of a 35-year-old man who is a heavy smoker dying within the next 10 years is one in 23. A non-smoker of the same age has a one in 90 chance of dying,during the same period. { ~ --Smokers tend to be more restless, less dependable and more neurotic than non-smokers. t The benefits of smoking are almost entirely psychological and social. . , .; .. --Tobaeco manufacturers in Britain paid 38 ' million(M) pounds ($106.4 million) for ciga.rette advertising during 1955-60 while health authorities spent less than 5,000 pounds ($54,000) on anti-smoke education during the same period , . . . . ~• .. `..` . . . ::. - '~ "Some evidence of concern by the government is neededito convince the public," the report said. " Five of the nine men on the report panel are non-smokers. One heavy cigarette smoker gave up smoking while the report was under preparation, .two men were pipe-smokers and the ninth member was-said to have switched from cigarettes to a pipe or cigars. • ! ,, . . , . ('more 1 , „ t x The 70-page report took the team, under the,dir ection of Sir Robert Platty two years to compile. It said the matter was urgent and that the parallel betweenialcoholism and cigarette addiction was close. s "It appears that_ smnking; is generally tauch- m©re _ habi, forming thsn__,_- drinking," the report said. It asked British Doctors to have a handiin the drive against cigarette smoking,and'explain the virtues of such other fbrms of smoking as pipes and cigars. --Smoking,is linked with killer diseases such as cancer and bronchitis andi"diseases associated with smoking now and cause so many deaths that they present one of'the most challenging opportunities for preventive medicine today." .

British tobacco manufacturers replied with skepticismitoday to a, Royal College of Physicians' report urging government support in a drive to curb smoking. - In two statements, one by the Tobacco Manufacturers' Standing Committee and the other by the Tobacco AdVisory Committee, the manufacturers li'sted . their ob3ections. -"Tlaere is a growing body of' evidence that smoke has pharmacological and psychological effects that are of real value to smokers." --'"Only a minority off even heavy smokers contract lung cancer or chronic bronchitis" and "there well may be"- other factors involved. -- ' "'it.would penalize the millions of smokers who derive pleasure and solace,:- from smoking and who, as the report shows, do not develop the diseases in is doubtful whether increased cost wi' deter smokers. Rather,_~ question._,'7 a number of inconsistenci'es. . Washington--The President of The Tobacco Institute, Inc., today described' a British report against smoking as a review of old data which also contained Allen said obtaining the full facts on cancer ana other diseases wi1l be , done in the laboratories and not by pronouncements by me or anyone else._".' George V. Allen, commenting on recommendations by a committee of the Royal College of Physicians that the British government should help curb cigarette-smoking, said: ~."This report is admittedly a review of old data without any new research. findings.; I am informed that the British report contains a number of'contradictions and inconsistencies," Allen's statement said. indiividuals, whether they're smokers or not."' , j, r viruses, environment, diet, previous illnesses, and the basic difference between important research into many other factors that are being studied. These include " 1 ' He said the authors of the British re ort "also i p gnore a large amount of

Statement given (reportedly) to The New York Times by Renry Christman, press relations department, of'the American Cancer Society. "'The Ameri'can Cancer Society welcomes the report oP'the Cbmmittee of the Royal College of Physicians (and~Surgeons). Since completion of its,study _o:r, the_,smoking habits, of ' 800,000 men, the Society has said repeated'ly that all evidence shows.beyond a reasonable doubt that y-.. ... .:..,1 . .. '_ . , :: - - ;«. ~ . .,_. _ -,~. ~._ ~ ....' :..... • --- - .-. :~_- ~. ...~.- .__ - _•_ _ •' :~ cigarette smoking 3.s the majo~Ica.use o~ lung cancer deaths in the TJ.5. The Society estimates that elimination of cigarette smoking would eventua.lly reduce lung cancer deaths by about 75 percent. Evidencee assembled by the Society shows the lung cancer death rate 10 times as, great in cigarette smokers as ininon-smokers and 25 to 301times in, heavy smokers as in non-smokers. The Society's policy is to presentt this evidence to the public and allow the public to decide for itself whether to smoke or n nt. A~lso, peratioa the Society has undertaken in coo... _:... with schools an intuensive teen-age programito present the facts to youngsters." ..~„ - March 7, 1962 M r. ) . ._ . . .. -_.~.J:'.,. ,.

Statement given (,reportedly) to The New York Times by Henry Christmany press relations department, of the American Cancer Society. "The American Cancer Society welcomes the report of the Cbmmittee :.~ t r T. of the Royal Cbllege of Phys cians (and Stirgeons). Since completion of , . _. . -1 . . - ; - . ..~ ,. y , . . . . • . _ . its study of the smoking habits of 8i00,000 men, the Society has said repeatedly that all evidence shows beyond a reasonable doubt that cigarette smoking is the major cause of lung cancer deaths i'n the U.S. The Society estimates ths:t elimination of cigarette smoking would' eventually reduce lung cancer deaths by about 75 percent. Evidence assembled by the Society shows the lung cancer death rate 10 times as great in cigarette smokers as in non-smokers and 25'to 30 times in heavy smokers as in non-smokers. The Society's policy is to present this evidence to the public and allow the public to decide for itself whether to smoke or not. Also, the Society has undertaken in cooperation ~,.. ~ .:,~~~ ~ .; •~ ..~~. ~ . . .. .., . . ~ ._.:.., .., . ~ . _ . ... _ . ~ . with schools an intensive teen-age program to present the facts to youngsters." t , . March 7, 1962 Y _t~ .... ...~.~ .~1.-~~ i... , . Y t F r.