Tar and nicotine yields of U.K. cigarettes 1972-1983: sales-weighted estimates from non-industry sources.

Abstract

SummaryWe have estimated sales‐weighted tar and nicotine yields of cigarettes in the United Kingdom from 1972 to 1983 using sources outside the tobacco industry. Our estimates are shown to be valid and accurate, and can be quickly updated.The data show a substantial decline of 27 per cent in overall sales‐weighted tar yields from an average of 20.5mg per cigarette in 1972 to 15.0mg in 1983, whereas the sales‐weighted nicotine yields over this period have remained static at about 1.3mg per cigarette. Likewise, the proportion of smokers who smoke a low‐tar brand (<11mg) has stuck at about 15 per cent since 1977. This suggests a barrier to consumer acceptability which appears to be linked mare closely to nicotine than to tar. Finally, there has been an overall 26 per cent reduction in the ratio of tar yield to nicotine yield, from a sales‐weighted average of 15.5 in 1972 to 11.5 in 1983. Thus it appears that, without having to reduce their nicotine intake, British smokers may now be exposed to about a quarter less tar than in 1972, and this includes the majority who have not switched to a low tar brand.