One of the world's biggest cigarette manufacturers secretly accepted that nicotine was addictive as far back as 1979, according official documents uncovered as part of a legal case in the United States.

The papers also reveal that British American Tobacco considered developing a new addictive product to replace cigarettes.

Many cigarette companies have only recently admitted that nicotine is addictive. BAT still publicly argues that cigarettes are not addictive.

BAT thought doctors might oppose a new product

One document, dated August 1979, is a draft summary of a meeting and subsequent follow-up discussions between five BAT executives.

Entitled "Product innovation over the next 10 years", the document analysed why people smoke. It said that any new, replacement product had to be socially acceptable and addictive.

The paper said the essential constituent of any new product is likely to be nicotine or a direct substitute.

It suggested that the product should not be ignitable to avoid "the inhalation of combustion products and passive smoking."

But the executives concluded that such a product might not be profitable enough. They also thought that medical opinion might oppose the introduction of another addictive product into the market place.

A spokesman for BAT said: "It's difficult to comment on a single paper taken out of context. Companies discuss all sorts of things all the time and it's clear that no such product has been developed."

Significant discovery

But, John Pickering, a lawyer who is representing a number of British lung cancer victims against the tobacco companies in court, said the discovery of the document was extremely significant.

Director of Ash, Clive Bates: "evidence undermines tobacco companies' arguments" (0'24")

"It would appear that these documents do exist and they are clearly an important piece of evidence," he said.

"The traditional argument that the tobacco companies have used in denying the addictive properties of nicotine, is now seriously undermined."

The Director of Action on Smoking and Health (Ash), Clive Bates, said he had managed to obtain a copy of the report and was astounded by its content.

"The document shows the chilling logic of a company understanding that its whole business depends on addicting its customers to nicotine," he said.

Forty-seven lung cancer victims in Britain are currently suing cigarette makers Gallaher and Imperial Tobacco for failing to reduce tar levels during the 1950s, after evidence of a link to cancer was disclosed.
 

Back to top | BBC News Home | BBC Homepage	©