RESTRICTED
SMO=G AND HEALTH
Covering letter to Companies with Strategies and Constraints
Smoking is enjoyed by a huge number of people all
over the world. In varying degrees it is of importance to
them. But smoking is associated in many studies with a
number of diseases and in some countries it has become
identified as a social problem. However, even if it were
acceptable as social policy, attempts by enforcement or
persuasion to end the smoking habit for all do not appear
to provide a practical answer to the social question.
Indeed, if they were successful it is likely that such
attempts sould create new social dangers. As far as can
be foreseen, therefore, smoking will remain an important
social habit satisfying some need in varying degrees for
a large number of people and one of the prime responsibilities
of tobacco companies is to provide for these needs and
to do the best we can for our consumers in the monitoring
and modification of our products.
The unevenness, around the world, of the development
of external constraints in response to the association of
smoking and disease suggests that at any one time the
reaction to these problems may properly be different from
company to company. Yet in a group of companies such as
BAT it is clear that the reaction of one company could
affect the position of other companies in the group. To
get the best position for the Group it is essential to
ensure co-ordination in this as in some other areas. In
this there is a developing role for the centre. Broadly
this is to evolve a coherent strategy for the long term
with respect to relations with the public, with Governments
and with consumers and with respect to future development
of products, 'etc. It is recognised that for some companies
r%_
there will necessarily be tactical deviations on occasions
but by an awareness of such a strategy any adverse effects
co
of such deviations should be minimised. An essential part
of the role of the centre is to ensure that members of the
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Group are adequately informed in this area with respect Ul
to external developments to the evolving strategy and to
Contd.
BAT Industries document for Province of British Columbia 23 April 1999

2
experience within the Group.
Millbank will continue to send out guidelines
and "party line" answers to questions but each manager is
expected to understand the position in the country in
which he is operating, to be sensitive to the position
elsewhere in the Group and to have a mature and cohesive
view over the whole area appropriate to his particular job.
Finally if the in-formation role is to be effective
it is essential that each company should be well informed
about local developments and official attitudes and should
feed the centre with this specialist knowledge.
NJ
co
NJ
C;
Ln
BAT Industries document for Province of British Columbia 23 April 1999