Our Guiding Principles and Beliefs

At R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company our Guiding Principles and Beliefs represent our core commitment to operating our business in a responsible manner. Here’s what we believe:

TOBACCO USE & HEALTH

• Smoking causes serious disease.
• Nicotine in tobacco products is addictive but is not considered a significant threat to health.
• No tobacco product has been shown to be safe.
• An individual's level of risk for serious disease is significantly affected by the type of tobacco product used as well as the manner and frequency of use.

TOBACCO REGULATION

• Tobacco products should be regulated in a reasonable and consistent manner, and they should remain legal and consumer-acceptable. The prohibition, in any form, of tobacco products is neither practical nor desirable.
• Communication and interaction with adult tobacco users regarding their brand choices is essential for effective competition.
• Resolving the issues regarding the marketing and use of tobacco products in an open and objective manner is critical to establishing an acceptable and cooperative environment for all.
• Smoking restrictions should exempt adult venues such as bars and taverns.

TOBACCO CONSUMERS

• Individuals should rely on the conclusions of the U.S. Surgeon General, the Centers for Disease Control and other public health and medical officials when making decisions regarding smoking.
• The best course of action for tobacco users concerned about their health is to quit.
• Minors should never use tobacco products and adults who do not use or have quit using tobacco products should not start.
• Adults who smoke should avoid exposing minors to secondhand smoke.

HARM REDUCTION

• Decreasing the health risks and harm directly associated with the use of tobacco products is in everyone's best interest.
• Manufacturers, working in conjunction with governments, public health authorities and tobacco producers, should strive to reduce the harm caused by the use of tobacco products.
• Public policy should encourage the development of tobacco products that reduce harm or relative risk of serious disease.
• Public policy should require population- and science-based standards that allow for consistent, accurate and verified communication about reduced harm and the relative risks of tobacco products.
• Adult tobacco consumers should have access to a range of tobacco, nicotine and cessation products and should be given information in order to make an informed choice on the relative risks of each product.

MARKETING AND COMMUNICATION

• Marketing standards for tobacco products should minimize the exposure of minors to tobacco advertising, be consistent with constitutional protections and provide information allowing adults to make an informed choice.
• Public policy should allow communication of the relative risks of tobacco products and encourage tobacco users to switch to lower risk products.
• Preferential treatment (in terms of labeling, adult consumer communication, tax rates, etc.) should be given to tobacco products or categories established through scientific evaluation to be significantly less harmful than other available tobacco products or categories.