Tobacco Documents Online

i April 17, 1990 • Mr. Gerald W. Miller 4852 Springhill Drive Sherwood Village Menasha, Wisconsin 54952 Dear Mr. Miller: I thought I would take this opportunity to respond to your note of April 1, 1990, attached to your returned proxy card. In our view, there is no conclusive proof of a "cause and effect" relationship between cigarette smoking and chronic diseases. We recognize that there is statistical data which suggests such a relationship. However, statistics alone do not prove causation, and there is evidence, including negative animal inhalation studies, that is inconsistent with the causation theory. Despite years of effort and expense, medical science has been unable to determine the specific causes of many diseases including those which are statistically associated with cigarette smoking. Our advertising and promotional activities are directed to persuade smokers to purchase our brands rather than those marketed by our competitors. They are not intended to induce anyone to smoke and they are not directed to minors. Since 1964, we have adhered to the principles and policies of the industry's cigarette and advertising code which clearly prohibits advertising directed toward minors. We have sponsored industry-wide programs ("Help Youth Decide/Helping Youth Say No") to assist parents and schools in teaching that smoking is an adult activity. We support state laws to raise the legal age of cigarette purchase to 18 and have worked with retail associations to educate store managers that it is illegal to sell cigarettes to minors. We are not involved in the sale of cigarettes at the retail level. Yours very truly, © Donald Fried c~0 Vice President Associate General Counsel h-~ 00 and Secretary ~..i h-~ siy