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PHILIP MORRIS INCORPORATED INTER-OFFICE CORRESPONDENCE ~ Z C~- oT L. i. -- R`D RICHMOND, YIRGINIA. Subject: . Consumer Perception of Puff Count Changes • hr.:Yr_ g Date: January 26, 1981 A meeting was held between representatives from SEF and New Products to.discuss possible testing to answer questions raised in the me."no to you from Dr. Seligman, dated January 15, 1981. The decision was made to test the concept of consumer perception of varying puff counts in several stages. Initially, the level of tar per puff will be held constant, which means the total'tar delivery will vary. After that, the total tar delivery will.be held constant, allowing the tar/puff to change. Using the Merit 85 and Merit Ultra Lights cigarette specifications, we believe the puff counts can be varied in half puff intervals from 9 to 6.5 puffs. P1_ans are to first test a 1.5 puff difference, each at two tar levels and then narrow the puff count range until the con- sumers can no longer tell the difference. The same blend will be used in each set of cigarettes, so that static burn rate does not adversely affect the puff count. It is also desirable to maintain a similar cigarette RTD (filter efficiency) on all models, so.that the consumers will not change their average puff sizes.from one cigarette to another. :As we know from Simulator studies, that would change the number of puffs available on the cigarette. Varying dilution levels more than a few percent would have a similar effect. Thus, we are limited to using wrapper porosity and citrate levels as a means of changing the puff count. Small-scale models of all the candidates will be made and tested subjectively in-house before any mailout tests are requested. B. Goodman BG/lad JAN 27 1981 .cc• ~ Dr. Mr. R. P. B. Seligman N. Gauvin F-~ O O Mr. Dr. Dr. H. W. C. Spielberg A. Geiszler Levy Ca ~