Typically the First Amendment argument is invoked: Protections on free speech here are so strong that public health officials dont stand a chance, the thinking goes
But then youve got additivesthings like humectants to keep the tobacco from drying out, sugars to adjust the burn, and ammonia compounds that increase nicotine absorption (which, in corporate-speak, is called enhancing bioavailability, but lets be real, its just making sure the buzz hits faster)
Manufacturers realized that consumers had stopped scrutinizing the composition of light cigarettes and began to ratchet up the tar and nicotine levels, in order to give their ostensibly mild products a stronger kick
For instance, British American Tobacco (BAT) introduced the Newport Soft Pack, a lower-priced alternative to the standard Newport Box, to cater to price-sensitive consumers, particularly menthol smokers in lower-income areas 1