Lorillard Tobacco Company Comments on Harvard School of Public Health Report

GREENSBORO, N.C., July 16 /PRNewswire/ -- While Lorillard Tobacco Company
(a wholly-owned subsidiary of Lorillard, Inc. (NYSE: LO)) has not yet had the
opportunity to fully review the latest report from the Harvard School of
Public Health, the company is gratified that the report reaffirms its view
with respect to the present state of the science examining menthol use in
cigarettes, including that:
-- "The available [scientific] evidence remains inconclusive" that menthol
cigarettes confer a higher risk than non-mentholated cigarettes for
smoking-related diseases.
-- "Recent studies did not find significant differences in risk for
disease between menthol and non-menthol smokers."
-- "Research on differences in cessation outcomes between menthol and
non-menthol smokers had conflicting results."
However the report's conclusion that Lorillard controls or alters the
menthol levels in its products to promote smoking initiation or addiction is
categorically false.
Lorillard does not control levels of menthol to promote smoking among
adolescents and young adults. Furthermore, Lorillard does not engineer any of
its cigarettes to promote smoking initiation or nicotine addiction.
Importantly, the target menthol specifications for Newport have not changed at
all since 2000.
Lorillard is in the business of manufacturing cigarettes for sale to adult
smokers. The company wants every adult smoker who prefers menthol cigarettes
to choose its Newport product. This is why Lorillard strives to make a product
with superior taste and consistency.
The company also rejects the report's conclusion that Lorillard targets
youth smokers. The authors should know that pursuant to an agreement with the
state's Attorneys General, Lorillard does not advertise in magazines that have
a youth readership of 15 percent or greater and/or a circulation of two
million or more readers under 18 years of age. This is not a new policy and
has been in effect for years. Contrary to the report's assertion, while the
magazine advertising expenditures for Newport may fluctuate from year to year,
overall spending on magazine advertising has decreased over the last 10 years.
About Lorillard, Inc.
Lorillard, Inc. (NYSE: LO), the parent company of Lorillard Tobacco
Company, is the third largest manufacturer of cigarettes in the United States.
Lorillard was founded in 1760, and is the oldest continuously operating
tobacco company in the U.S. Newport(R), Lorillard's flagship brand, is a
menthol-flavored premium cigarette brand and the top selling menthol and
second largest selling cigarette in the U.S. In addition to Newport, the
Lorillard product line has five additional brand families marketed under the
Kent(R), True(R), Maverick(R), Old Gold(R) and Max(R) brand names. These six
brands include 44 different product offerings which vary in price, taste,
flavor, length and packaging. Lorillard's manufactures all of its products at
its Greensboro, North Carolina facility and maintains its headquarters there.
Forward-Looking Statements
Certain statements made in this press release are "forward-looking"
statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act
of 1995, or the Reform Act. Forward-looking statements include, without
limitation, any statement that may project, indicate or imply future results,
events, performance or achievements, and may contain the words "expect",
"intend", "plan", "anticipate", "estimate", "believe", "will be", "will
continue", "will likely result", and similar expressions. In addition, any
statement that may be provided by management concerning future financial
performance (including future revenues, earnings or growth rates), ongoing
business strategies or prospects, and possible actions by Lorillard, Inc. are
also forward-looking statements as defined by the Reform Act.
Forward-looking statements are based on current expectations and
projections about future events and are inherently subject to a variety of
risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond the control of Lorillard,
Inc., that could cause actual results to differ materially from those
anticipated or projected. Information describing factors that could cause
actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements
is available in Lorillard, Inc.'s filings with the Securities and Exchange
Commission. These filings are available from the SEC over the Internet or in
hard copy, and are, in some cases, available from Lorillard, Inc. as well.
Forward-looking statements speak only as of the time they are made, and
Lorillard, Inc. expressly disclaims any obligation or undertaking to update
these statements to reflect any change in expectations or beliefs or any
change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any forward-looking
statement is based.
Contact:
Michael W. Robinson
202-973-1340
mrobinson@levick.com

SOURCE Lorillard Tobacco Company

Michael W. Robinson for Lorillard Tobacco Company, +1-202-973-1340,
mrobinson@levick.com