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Low tar cigarettes

For many decades the tobacco industry succeeded in persuading smokers that low tar cigarettes were less hazardous than higher tar variants. However the reality is that all cigarettes are dangerous and the tar yield that appears on cigarette packs does not reflect the amount of tar actually inhaled by the smoker. These documents explain how smokers have been conned into believing that some cigarettes are better than others.

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Philip Morris's position on low tar cigarettes (External Web Page)

Even the worlds largest tobacco company agrees that their low tar cigarettes are no less deadly than their conventionally deadly cigarettes.

Health Canada: Expert panel report on deceptive light and mild cigarette descriptors (External Web Page)

It is the conclusion of the Expert Panel, based on the best available science, that there is no convincing evidence of a meaningful health benefit to either individuals nor to the whole population resulting from cigarettes marketed as 'light' or 'mild'. Health Canada Press release 1 November 2001

US National Cancer Institute: Low Tar cigarette - no benefit to health (External Web Page)

A major review of the impact of low tar cigarettes finds no public health benefits. US National Institute of Cancer press release: Low-Tar Cigarettes: Evidence Doesn't Indicate Benefit to Public Health. November 2001