tobacco industry

In contrast to the many U.S. companies we should view with pride, some have behaved in ways that are downright evil. For their exploitative behaviors, these companies (and one whole industry) have earned their seats on the corporate netherworld's board of shame.

New research shows that forcing smokers to look at scary warning labels doesn't make them less likely to buy cigarettes. In fact, it may make them more likely to. Are anti-tobacco advocates wasting their money and effort on a pointless campaign?

A New York City health code regulation set to go into effect on Jan. 1 would have added some disturbing images to the Big Apple's glittering background of advertising: Hideously accurate ads depicting the results of smoking. But a federal judge this week killed the city's anti-smoking campaign before it could begin.

The industry just lost an $80 million verdict to a smoker's daughter. After losing about a dozen earlier cases, tobacco had won the eight decisions right before this one, suggesting that it had figured out how to win. But the latest plaintiff victory dispels that notion.

Foreign subsidiaries of two American tobacco companies pled guilty to charges of bribing foreign countries. Units of Alliance One Int'l, a N.C.-based global tobacco leaf company, admitted bribing Thai and Kyrgyz officials and will pay $9.25 million in fines and disgorge $10 million in profits.

The Supreme Court will not weigh in on seven tobacco industry appeals. But by passing on the cases, the justices gave a big boost to the tobacco industry, which is safe from the threat of having to pay the government $280 billion.

Tobacco companies will no longer be able to use the words "light," "low-tar" and "mild" on their labels without an explicit federal approval, and must affix larger, bolder health warnings to chewing tobacco and other smokeless products. The requirements are part of a new set of rules the Federal...

A new nationwide poll finds that two-thirds of U.S. voters support a $1 increase in tobacco taxes per pack. The tax could raise more than $9.1 billion in new annual revenue for states, says the report released by a coalition of public health organizations claims.

A major tax increase on loose cigarette tobacco has caused pipe tobacco sales to surge dramatically this year. Historically, the tobacco industry manufactured around 270,000 pounds of pipe tobacco per month. Yet, in April, it hit 566,000 pounds, ultimately skyrocketing to 1.7 million pounds in...

Candy-flavored cigarettes have long been the bane of parents and antismoking advocates. Their allure to youths was obvious -- they had the tang of tobacco behind such flavorings as chocolate, vanilla, and lime. This week, the Food and Drug Administration's ban on such tobacco products takes effect...