AT
,~ BRITISII-AMERICAN TOBACCO COMPANY LIMITED
TO: BATCo Directors
OpCo General N12nagers
Public Affairs Minsigers
Heads of Department
CC:
FROM: DAVID BACON
Corporate Affairs
DATE: 11 May 1993
SUBTECT: PANORANIA 10,%LkY 93
Last night BBC Television reported on what they
called "the tobacco industry's various
strategies and tactics in dealing with smoking and
health controversies since the mid
1950's until the present time".
The main allegation was that since 1953 when the
tobacco industry learned of a claimed
association between certain diseases and smoking
there has been a ?R drive' invoMng
the setting up of industry fiinded research to
create and disperse misinformation about
the adverse health effects that arc claimed to be
caused by smoking.
It was also claimed that the industry suppressed
the results of research that would have
implicated smoking as a cause of cancer in
animals.
The programme was based on similar allegations
made in February 1993 in the Prime
Time Live television programme in the United
States which in turn was a rehash of
allegations printed in the Wall Street Journal on
I I February 1993.
Brown and Williamson responded to Prime Time by
stating 'The fraud and conspiracy
allegations presented in the show are the same
claims that have been made in previously
tried lawsuits and reported by the media over and
over again during the past ten years.
Each time, juries after hearing all the evidence
have made the correct decision and
rejected those claims".
The main difference between Prime Time Live and
Panorama was that an attempt was
made by the producers of Panorama to give the
programme a UK angle by mentioning
UK tobacco industry research and new product
development as well as using emotive
sensationalist footage of local cancer patients.
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BATCo document for Province of BritiSh Columbia 26
October 1999


Epecific references to BAT are being investigated.
L'i case ofany follow-up media enquiries about the
programme, we have prepared the
irtached statement which should be used as a
response only.
~'_riy media enquiries in the LJK should be
referred to Corporate Affairs.
Operating Companies should use the media statement
to respond to any press enquiries
~i their own countries and decline to answer any
specific questions on the p-rogranime.
he media response statement may be given to staff
for information.
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BATCo document for Province of BritiSh Columbia 26
October 1999