Think Tanks

This page was last edited on at

For the tobacco industry, think tanks play an important role in indirect lobbying of government. Denied direct lobbying access to governments due to Article 5.3 of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC), an obvious route to influence policy and debate is by funding think tanks. This is called a Third Party Technique.

Below is a list of think tanks from around the world which have supported tobacco industry positions and, in many cases, accepted funding without publicising the source. For many of them we provide individual pages giving more background information, which can be accessed by clicking on the name of the organisation.

None of these organisations have broken any laws.

Lack of Transparency

In the UK and the US most right-wing and libertarian think tanks do not disclose who funds them, so the link to the tobacco industry, if it exists, is often hidden. Tobacco industry documents in the Truth Tobacco Documents Library show that UK think tanks such as the Adam Smith Institute (ASI) and the Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA) have received tobacco funding in the past.

For example, IEA is known to have received funding from British American Tobacco (BAT) as far back as 1963. Up to May 2021, BAT described itself as an IEA member in the EU Transparency Register,1 but BAT does not disclose all its memberships on this register, or anywhere else. IEA does not disclose its funding sources and has repeatedly received the lowest possible transparency ratings from the watchdog Transparency International,2 and the independent international media platform Open Democracy.34

As can be seen in the list below, such a lack of transparency is not limited to the UK.

Benefits to the industry

The benefit for tobacco companies is that these think tanks provide an echo-chamber for the industry, especially if they frame the smoking and health debate in terms of freedom, the “nanny state” and excessive regulation. Michael Prideaux, BAT’s former communications director concedes that “I think the libertarian argument resonates among people who wouldn’t normally take notice of what the tobacco industry say”.5

List of think tanks allied with the tobacco industry

Global and Regional Think Tanks

American European Community Association
Founded in 1981 by the British politician Roy Jenkins and the chairman of Rothmans International Sir David Nicolson, its objectives are to encourage free trade, the sharing of knowledge, political cooperation and closer cultural links.

Atlas Network
This powerful libertarian think tank (originally named the Atlas Economic Research Foundation) was founded in 1981. It aims to strengthen a global network of partners that promote market-based policy solutions. Has received funding from BAT, Japan Tobacco International (JTI) and Philip Morris International (PMI). Previously board members have worked for, or had connections with, the tobacco industry.

Crime Stoppers International
Crime Stoppers International describes itself as a “global non-profit organization representing seven regions committed to support law enforcement efforts to prevent and solve crime by mobilizing citizens to anonymously report illegal activity”. They have collaborated with tobacco companies on campaigns around illicit trade.

The Digital Coding and Tracking Association
The Digital Coding and Tracking Association (DCTA) is a front group, launched in 2013 by the four multinational tobacco companies: BAT, Imperial Tobacco, Japan Tobacco International and Philip Morris. The DCTA has promoted the industry’s tobacco tracking and tracing technology, Codentify, often without disclosing its relationship to the tobacco industry.

EPICENTER
EPICENTER, or the European Policy Information Center, was launched in 2014 and funded entirely by the Institute of Economic Affairs which has a long history of tobacco industry funding. It is a collective of European think tanks, which provides a “free-market perspective” in European policy debates on topics including public health. EPICENTER has challenged the EU Tobacco Products Directive.

Foundation for a Smoke-Free World
The Foundation for a Smoke-Free World describes itself as “an independent, private foundation formed and operated free from the control or influence of any third party” but is solely funded by Philip Morris International (PMI). It was established in September 2017 and formally launched at the Global Tobacco and Nicotine Forum 2017 with a budget of $80m annually.

Kangaroo Group
Set up in 1979, the Kangaroo Group promotes free trade across the European Union and brings together an impressive roster of politicians, academics and business people. It has senior representatives from big four tobacco companies as members. It has regularly echoed tobacco industry arguments around Tobacco Smuggling.

Knowledge Action Change
This London-based business describes itself as a “private sector public health agency”. It has received more than $1million in contracts from the Foundation for a Smoke-Free World. It also organises the Global Forum on Nicotine which has links with the tobacco industry. For more information see the page on director Gerry Stimson

The Mentor Group
The Mentor Group Institute for Intercultural Education, known as The Mentor Group, is an American think tank established in 1983. Its purpose is “to conduct legal and economic studies and research for scholars and officials” in the US and Europe. It has a number of policy offshoots which lobby EU decision makers. BAT was a member for many years but no tobacco companies are currently listed.

Students for Liberty
An international network for young libertarians connected with well-established think tanks. It has published articles attacking plain packaging,6 and extolling the virtues of cigarettes for women.7

North American Think Tanks

American Legislative Exchange Council
ALEC is a powerful American organisation of conservative state legislators dedicated to limited government, free markets and federalism. It is comprised of nearly one-quarter of the US state legislators and stakeholders.8 It has been openly against plain-packaging and has lobbied globally on this.9It has received funding from tobacco firm Altria,10 most recently in 2018.11

American Enterprise Institute
The AEI says: “We welcome civil disagreement because we believe that a competition of ideas is essential to a free society.”12 Founded in 1938 this free market think tank is interested in a range of social issues, including tobacco. It has argued that it is a mistake not to take money from tobacco companies when researching that area,13 and has taken money from Altria from 2011 to 2018.11 It has testified in support of PMI’s heated tobacco product IQOS before the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and argued that tobacco taxes cause crime.14 One of their most prolific tobacco advocates is visiting scholar Roger Bate.15

Americans for Prosperity Foundation
Americans for Prosperity Foundation organises community-level trainings on a free-market, open society and limited-government approach.16 It was founded in 2004, with an advocacy focus on conservative and libertarian principles. It has received funding from Reynolds American, a subsidiary of BAT and from Altria.17 The Foundation has campaigned against plain packaging and promotes anti-tax arguments in the US.18

Americans for Tax Reform
Americans for Tax Reform (ATR) opposes all tax increases as a principle.19 Founded in 1985, ATR organizes the Taxpayer Protection Pledge, which asks all candidates for federal and state office to commit themselves in writing to oppose all net tax increases – including on tobacco. It lobbied the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in favour of the Philip Morris International (PMI) IQOS product.20 ATR has received funding from Altria11 JTI and BAT.10

Buckeye Institute
The Buckeye Institute (formerly The Buckeye Institute for Public Policy Solutions) is a conservative advocacy group based in Ohio.21 It was founded in 1984 as the Buckeye Center, in part by the Atlas Network‘s former president, John Blundell. The Center has argued that raising cigarette taxes does more harm than good.22 It has previously sued Ohio state over smoking ban legislation.23 The Center has received funding from Altria over the past 10 years and as recently as 2018.1011

Canadian Taxpayers Federation
The Canadian Taxpayers Federation (CTF) is a non-profit grassroot organisation dedicated to lower taxes and accountable government. The CTF was founded in Saskatchewan in 1990 and says it has 141,000 supporters nation-wide. It is openly against plain packaging and raising tobacco taxes and promotes access to tobacco farming.2425

Competitive Enterprise Institute
The Competitive Enterprise Institute is a Washington DC-based think tank, promoting free markets and limited government while opposing regulation, including tobacco control laws. Its ties to the tobacco industry go back to 1991, with the most recent donation originating from Altria in 2018.11

Cascade Policy Institute
The Cascade Policy Institute is a think tank located in Oregon and a member of the State Policy Network (SPN). Cascade promotes free-market values and limited government. It is against increasing tobacco taxes and has received funding from Altria from 2011 to 2018.1011 In 2015, then President John A Charles Jr testified before the state Senate that tobacco users had paid “more than their fair share” and did not deserve more taxes.26

Cato Institute
The Cato Institute is a Washington D.C-based think tank, that was founded by Charles G. Koch. This libertarian organization is also part of the Atlas Network. The Cato Institute has received tobacco funding, most recently from Altria.27 It has been listed by PMI as a “strategic ally”.28

Center of the American Experiment
The Center of the American Experiment is a right-wing lobby group from Minnesota, a member of the State Policy Network and has received funding from tobacco industry.29 This group has been openly against tobacco taxes and they often use tobacco industry arguments about illicit trade and smuggling, and in support of e-cigarettes.30

Freedom Foundation
The Freedom Foundation is a libertarian think tank, founded in 1991. This organisation has many different projects which promote lower taxes and limited government.31 It accepted funding from Altria in 2012 and 2013.27

FreedomWorks
FreedomWorks is a U.S. libertarian think tank, initially founded as ‘Citizens for a Sound Economy’ in 1984. It has publicly opposed tobacco taxes,3233 lobbied in favour of the introduction of IQOS,34 and opposed the FDA menthol cigarette ban in the U.S.35 It does not reveal its donors but reportedly received funding from Philip Morris International in the past.36

Georgia Public Policy Foundation
A free market think-tank which has opposed tobacco tax increases37 and editorialised on favour of PMI’s heated tobacco product IQOS.38The Foundation does not reveal its corporate funders but has taken money from Altria.39

Goldwater Institute
Named after the right-wing Arizona senator, the Institute is active in court and legislatures advocating free market approaches. Regularly receives tobacco industry funding,10 and regularly campaigns against tobacco taxes and testified in favour of heated tobacco product IQOS.40

Grassroot Institute of Hawaii
The Institute says that tobacco taxes proponents “never advertise the hidden costs of such policies, which can include rampant smuggling as well as violence against people, property and police” without offering any evidence.41 It has received tobacco industry funding and campaigned against raising the age with which to buy cigarettes.42

Heartland Institute
The Heartland Institute has a specific ‘”Consumer Freedom Lounge” on its website to promote its thinking on alcohol and smoking. It is the “place to go for sound science, economics, and legal commentary on tobacco issues”.43 The Institute has challenged the evidence on second-hand smoke, argued against smoking bans and tax increases and now supports e-cigarettes. The Institute has accepted industry funding.

Heritage Foundation
The Foundation describes its mission as “to formulate and promote conservative public policies based on the principles of free enterprise, limited government, individual freedom, traditional American values, and a strong national defense.”44 It has consistently opposed increasing tobacco taxation, moved into support for e-cigarettes and lobbied for approval of PMI’s heated tobacco product IQOS.45 There is a long history of tobacco funding10 for this well-connected and vocal think tank which has a global reach.

Idaho Freedom Foundation
The Foundation is a relative newcomer having launched in 2009 and describes itself as a “tireless watchdog against government waste”.46 It has regularly opposed raising tobacco taxes. Vice-president Fred Birnbaum told a state committee in 2018 that it should not pass a law raising the smoking age to 21 since smokers die earlier there would be no health care savings.47 Its 2019 Freedom Index ranks state politicians on how they voted against a number of bills which the foundation had decided where negative or positive. Among the bills which would count against a politician was support for H0280. This would have made it an offense to smoke or use an e-cigarette in a vehicle with a minor present.48The Foundation doesn’t reveal its donors but is known to have received funding from Altria regularly over the last decade.10

Illinois Policy Institute
The Illinois Policy Institute says that it: “generates marketable policy solutions to unleash Illinois’ talent and entrepreneurial spirit.”49 It has opposed local tobacco control policies such as funding for quit telephone lines,50 and raising the smoking age to 21 saying: “With the general public kicking smoking habits by themselves, an additional law such as this may not be needed.”51 It has received funding from Altria between 2011 and 2017.10

Independence Institute
The Colorado-based free-market think tank, which describes itself as an “action tank”, opposes tobacco tax rises arguing they lead to increases in Tobacco Smuggling.52 It hosts an annual Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms party. The Institute’s financial ties to tobacco stretch back to the 1990s.53 has received regular donations from Altria since 2011.10

Independent Women’s Forum
This US-based free-market think tank focuses on social policy issues for women. It has testified in favour of heated tobacco product IQOS54 and editorialised about “media panics” on e-cigarettes. It says that “women are the biggest losers from Bloomberg’s anti-e-cigarette propaganda.”55 It accepted Philip Morris funding as far back as 199853 and has received donations from Altria.10

James Madison Institute
The Florida-based think tank regularly campaigns for lower taxes and has taken Altria funding for several years10 and testified in favour of heated tobacco product IQOS.54 Sal Nuzzo, vice president of policy at the Institute, has argued that regulations on e-cigarettes should be relaxed.56

Josiah Bartlett Centre for Public Policy
Named after a New Hampshire politician, the center maintains opposition to tobacco taxes while being discrete about its own funding – which includes donations in the past from Altria.10 The center’s president, Andrew Cline, has argued that New Hampshire should not tax e-cigarettes as it does tobacco.57

MacIver Institute
A US free-market think tank which has lobbied in opposition to tobacco control policies and in support of relaxed e-cigarette regulation in Wisconsin. The Institute has received regular donations from Altria since 2014.10

Mackinac Center for Public Policy
Established in 1987 in Michigan, the Centre promotes free markets and aggressively challenges regulation in local government, including on public health. It has attacked numerous tobacco control policies, echoing industry arguments, particularly around smuggling.5859 In 2016 it released a major report highlighting what it saw as the link between high tax and illicit trade.60 It has received regular donations from Altria since 2011.10

Manhattan Institute for Policy Research
The Manhattan Institute is a free-market think tank which has consistently supported tobacco industry campaigns, most recently around e-cigarettes.61 As far back as 1995 it hosted a meeting on junk science organised by Philip Morris and featuring politicians and academics.62 It has received tobacco funding since the 1990s53 until at least 2015.10

Mercatus Center at George Mason University
Based at George Mason University, the Center produces research how markets can solve social problems and says it has a strict policy of academic independence.63 It often echoes industry arguments around the unintended consequences of tax increases.64 It has received industry donations since 2011.10

National Center for Public Policy Research
The centre’s Risk Analysis Division says it considers tobacco and e-cigarette polices “from a free-market and science-based perspective”. It regularly editorialises on the benefits of e-cigarettes and supports lower tobacco taxes. In 2014, the Center’s Jeff Stier was removed from COP-6 as an observer because of tobacco industry links, a move he was unhappy with.65 The Center was considered a key ally of Philip Morris.66 It has testified in support of heated tobacco product IQOS.54 It is a regular recipient of industry donations.10

Platte Institute for Economic Research
This research group is focused on tax policies and government regulations and says its “mission is to advance policies that remove barriers to growth and opportunity in Nebraska.”67 The Institute promotes free-markets and has openly criticized tobacco taxes arguing, for instance, that a planned increase in 2016 would be a barrier to economic growth.68 Three years later it criticised the State for using money from tobacco litigation compensation to plug gaps in its overall budget.69 It has received funding from Altria from 2013 until at least 2017.70

R Street Institute
Formed by former employees from the Heartland Institute, this think tank shares a similar outlook though says it adopts a coalition approach.71 It has supported deregulation on e-cigarettes and indeed has a whole section on its website harm reduction which echo industry arguments.72 That support has included lobbying the Food and Drug Administration on reducing regulations. For example Carrie Wade, its director of harm reduction who has written extensively on the issue, said that a decision in 2017 by the FDA to postpone regulations on e-cigarettes “feels like a vindication that someone is listening”.73 Although it keeps its donor details secret Altria has provided funding since 2014.7410

Reason Foundation
The Reason Foundation says that its: “Nonpartisan public policy research promotes choice, competition, and a dynamic market economy as the foundation for human dignity and progress.”75 The think tank has argued against raising tobacco taxes,76 and raising the age to buy cigarettes to 21. It publishes a monthly newsletter on harm reduction edited by Guy Bentley. He previously contributed to a report on “sin taxes” by the Adam Smith Institute.77 The newsletter regularly carries articles calling for reductions in regulations surrounding e-cigarettes, such as bans on flavours.7879 The Foundation has received donations from Altria from 2011 to 201811

Rio Grande Foundation
The Rio Grande Foundation was founded in 2000 and focuses on the state of New Mexico.80 The institute has openly opposed a number of tax regulations in the US, in particular on tobacco. It has argued that: “Since the poor disproportionately smoke, the tax hike will hit them much harder than middle- and upper-income consumers.”81 The Foundation is a member of the State Policy Network and it has received funding from Altria from 2011 until 2018.82

State Policy Network
A network of more than 160 associated and affiliated think tanks spread across America,83 many of which take similar, industry-friendly, positions on e-cigarettes and tobacco taxation. In October 2019 the Network hosts its annual meeting putting on training events for members from across the country. Altria is one the overall sponsors and also sponsors a breakfast talk entitled “Is the end of cannabis prohibition in the United States near?”84 The network’s financial links to the tobacco industry stretch back to the 1990s85 and up to 2018 when it took money from Altria,86 though it describes itself as fiercely independent.10

Tax Foundation
Founded in 193787 the Foundation regularly argues against tobacco taxes and particularly increasing them.8889 It has argued that taxes only increase smuggling rates.90 The Foundation’s finance reports on its website for 2017 show just under a third of its $5.3m income came from corporations91 but individual donors are not identified. However Altria has been a supporter since 2011 and as recently as 2020.1092

TechFreedom
A US free-market think tank specialising in technology and promoting minimal regulation of innovation. It has lobbied Congress on the benefits of e-cigarettes93 and lobbied in favour of heated tobacco product IQOS.94 The organisation has taken funding from Altria from 2016 to 2018.11

Thomas Jefferson Institute for Public Policy
Based on the tobacco heartland of Virginia, the Thomas Jefferson Institute for Public Policy says that it provides: “Virginia’s political, business, academic, community and media leadership with thoughtful, realistic, useful and non-partisan analysis of public policy issues.”95 It publishes an annual study on cigarette taxes. The 2019 report argues that increased taxes impact people on low incomes, small businesses and rarely meet projections.96 The front page of the study says it was funded by Altria Client Services on behalf of Philip Morris (USA). The study was carried for the Institute by the Beacon Hill Institute which was the research arm of the Department of Economics at Suffolk University in Boston but since 2016 is a free-standing entity.

Washington Policy Centre
The Washington Policy Center describes itself as an independent, non-profit think tank that promotes sound public policy based on free-market solutions.97 It has regularly opposed increases in tobacco taxation, as it does generally on taxation. In the case of tobacco it has argued that it leads to increase in smuggling.98 It has also argued against such rises because of the “impacts on the poor, nanny state controls, volatility of the revenue of a proposed tax, possible precedent on other businesses, and one-size fits all unnecessary mandates, to name a few”.10 The Center doesn’t reveal its donors who contribute to its $3.5m annual budget but it is known that Altria has provided funding since 2011 and as recently as 2018.11

Latin American Think Tanks

Centro de Divulgacion del Conocimiento Economico Para la Libertad
CEDICE is a libertarian think thank located in Venezuela. They promote free-market and democratic freedom. Among their allies are organizations as the Fraser Institute, Cato Institute, who are knowingly working with the tobacco industry. Funded by the Atlas Network.99They were one of the organizations that signed the letter to WHO against promoting plain packaging in 2016 and again in 2018.100

Contribuyentes por Respeto
Contribuyentes por Respeto is a Peruvian free-market think tank focused on promoting public-private partnerships and libertarian values.101 This think tank has made public appearances defending e-cigarettes as a healthier alternative since 2012 and warned about the possible economic effects of a complete ban of advertising. It provided written arguments against the tobacco control act in Peru.102 It opposed the tobacco control act in Peru, co-signed two anti-plain packaging letters to the WHO, and lobbied for looser regulation of e-cigarettes.103

Fundación Atlas 1853
Libertarian think tank focused on free-market principles,104 which co-signed letters to the WHO against promoting plain packaging in 2016 and in 2018. It has received funding from the Atlas Network.105

Fundación Eléutera
Fundación Eléutera publicly oppose plain packaging on their website and co-signed letters to the WHO against promoting plain packaging in 2016 and again in 2018.106It mirrored tobacco industry in arguing, for example, for the need to protect free markets, intellectual property and brands. It has received funding from the Atlas Network.107

Fundación Libertad
A libertarian think tank created more than 30 years ago, promoting free-market values, democracy and private property in Argentina. Among their members they have mining companies, pharmaceutical companies, banks, but subsidiaries from tobacco companies are not listed.108 It is funded by the Atlas Network and has strong links with the government, especially with current president Mauricio Macri. It was one of the organizations that signed the letter to the WHO against promoting plain packaging in 2018.109

Fundación para el Progreso
This Chilean think-tank promotes free-market, limited government intervention, private property, freedom and individualism values. It has articles criticising the sugar-tax and tobacco control taxes in Chile. it is part of the Atlas Network and has been receiving funding from them. 110 It does not disclose where else it receives funding. This organisation signed the open letter to the World Health Organization against plain packaging in 2018.111

Libertad y Desarrollo
Founded in Chile in 1990, this think-tank seeks to promote free-market, freedom, individualism and private property rights in Chile. It has received funding from The Tinker Foundation, Atlas Economic Research Foundation, Center for International Private Enterprise and Fundación Hans Seidel.112 Carlos Caceres, one of the founders of Libertad and Desarrollo and former minister of finance during Pinochet’s military dictatorship , became President of British American Tobacco Chile in 2014. 113 British American Tobacco confirmed that it provided funding to the think tank in 2013.10 Chilean news outlets have reported that BAT has provided funding to Libertad and Desarrollo, to lobby against the tobacco control law that came out in 2014.114

Libertad y Progreso
This Argentinean think-tank promotes market freedom and a reduced role for the State. Libertad y Progeso does not disclose the origins of its funding, arguing that “our funds come only from individual contributions of individuals, foundations and companies committed to the future of the country”.115 Libertad y Progreso co-signed an open letter to the World Health Organization in 2018 in opposition to plain packaging.10 It is internationally connected, and its allies include the Atlas Network, the Fraser Institute and the Cato Institute.

European Country Think Tanks

Centre for Policy Studies
The Centre for Policy Studies is a UK-based libertarian think tank that has been promoting free-market values since 1974. The tobacco industry documents show historical evidence of this organisation receiving funding from British American Tobacco.

Institute of Economic Affairs
One of the UK’s leading neo-liberal think tanks, with a history of taking money off the tobacco industry and taking tobacco industry positions on issues such as plain packaging. It has been listed as one of Philip Morris International’s “media messengers”. It is opaque on its funding, but has received money from British American Tobacco, Imperial Tobacco, Philip Morris International and Japan Tobacco International.

International Center for Policy Studies (ICPS)
ICPS is a Ukrainian think tank, working on foreign policy, gender equality, socio-economic issues, among others.116 It has received funding from PMI from 2014-2016, for gender projects with young girls in Ukraine.117 Both ICPS co-founder Serhiy Kischenko and some of his colleagues criticised progressive bill No. 2820 “On Amendments to Certain Laws of Ukraine on the Protection of the Public Health from Tobacco Harm”.118

Manifesto Club
The Manifesto Club is a small, free-market lobby group which campaigns, among other issues, against tobacco control policies. It is linked to various other libertarian outlets and has teamed up with the pro-smoking group Forest in the past.

Ukrainian Economic Freedoms Foundation
Based in Kiev, the Ukrainian Economic Freedoms Foundation says that is lobbies for reduced taxes and minimal government regulation. It is part of the Atlas Network of liberarian think thanks. Its founder, Jed Sunden, is an American businessman who sits on the supervisory board of the Network.119 The Foundation signed letters to the WHO in 2016,120 and 2018,25 to lobby against plain packaging legislation. The Foundation provides no information on its donors it is known that Philip Morris International donated $150,000 in 2017.121

Warsaw Enterprise Institute
The Warsaw Enterprise Institute is a member of the Atlas Network of libertarian think thanks and is connected with a range of former Eastern Bloc policy organisations. It signed a letter to the WHO in 2018 lobbying against plain packaging legislation.25 It is known that Philip Morris International gave the Institute $25,000 in 2017121 and $30,000 in 2018.122 In October 2018 it opened a Freedom Lounge in the former headquarters of the Communist Party in the centre of Warsaw. The Institute said it was “created with conservative and free-market youth in mind” and among the partners was Philip Morris.123

Asia and Middle East Think Tanks

Center for Indonesian Policy Studies
The Centre for Indonesian Policy Studies is a think-tank based in Jakarta and a member of Atlas Network. It promotes free-market values and has prepared publications promoting tax-reductions and looser regulations, including in tobacco control. It was one of the organisations that opposed plain packaging in the letter to WHO in 2018.25 The Center argues its opposition to plain packaging is based on respecting intellectual property rights.10

INDEF (Institute for Development of Economics and Finance)
The Institute for Development of Economics and Finance (INDEF) is an Indonesian free-market think tank founded in 1995. In 2018, INDEF organised several events on how to protect the tobacco industry from tobacco control regulation in Indonesia, after new tobacco control measures were introduced in the country.124

Institute for Democracy and Economic Affairs
Based in Kuala Lumpur, the Institute for Democracy and Economic Affairs (IDEAS) aims to improve public polices based on limited governments and free market values. It has acknowledged previously receiving tobacco industry funding from Philip Morris International and Japan Tobacco International.125126 The Guardian also reported that IDEAS received tobacco industry funding between 2015 and 2017.10 IDEAS has lobbied against tobacco control policies in Malaysia and at a global level, and co-signed letters to WHO opposing plain packaging in 2016 an 2018.12025 In 2019, IDEAS published an open letter stating that it would no longer receive funding from the tobacco industry.127 

Policy Research Institute of Market Economy (PRIME)
PRIME is a think tank based in Islamabad, Pakistan. Founded in 2013 with a libertarian outlook it promotes a limited government approach PRIME is a member of the Atlas Network 128 PRIME has opposed plain packaging at a global level and signed the WHO open letter against plain packaging in 2016 and 2018.12025

Africa Think Tanks

Egyptian Center for Public Policy Studies
This Egyptian free-market think tank, formerly known as the Egyptian Union of Liberal Youth (EULY), was founded in 2007. It opposed plain packaging in a 2016 letter to the WHO it co-signed.12010, basing their opposition on intellectual property rights arguments and the need of economic freedom 129

Free Market Foundation
Founded in 1975, the Free Market Foundation is a libertarian think tank which has a long history of working on behalf of the tobacco industry. In recent years, it has defended tobacco marketing and opposed tobacco control policies in South Africa 130 It is a partner of the Atlas Network, and British American Tobacco South Africa has been a “senior corporate member” since 2000. Philip Morris International (PMI) was also listed on the think tank’s website as a senior corporate member in 2013. Shortly after, information about members was removed from the Free Market Foundation‘s website and it no longer makes its donors’ details public. It was one of the organisations that signed the letter to WHO both in 2016 and 2018, opposing plain packaging.12025

Imani Center for Policy and Education
The Imani Centre for Policy and Education is a Ghanaian libertarian think-tank, founded in 2004. It has publicly opposed tobacco taxes in Ghana and plain packaging at a global level.131 Moreover, this organisation has challenged the link between tobacco use and lung cancer. The Guardian reports that the Centre declared that it had received tobacco industry funding in 2015.10

Pacific Think Tanks

Institute of Public Affairs
The Institute of Public Affairs is an Australian think tank, created in 1943. It promotes free-market and limited government values, through research publications and op-eds.132 This think-tank has a history of opposing tobacco control policies such as plain packaging, tobacco taxes, among others.133 The IPA has received funding from British American Tobacco and Philip Morris International and the evidence suggests that these relationships with the tobacco industry have been happening since early 2000.10

Tobacco Tactics Resources

Print Friendly, PDF & Email

References

  1. ↑EU Transparency Register, British American Tobacco, last modified 23 May 2018, accessed January 2019
  2. ↑Transparify, Pressure grows on UK think tanks that fail to disclose their funders, website, 16 November 2018, accessed July 2019
  3. ↑Open Democracy, Who Funds You?, website, undated, accessed December 2023
  4. ↑Open Democracy, Why it is essential that the UK’s shady think tanks reveal their funders, 14 December 2023, accessed December 2023
  5. ↑Christopher Thompson, Big Tobacco campaigns on freedom, The Financial Times, 6 April 2012, accessed July 2019
  6. ↑M.Boyer, America, don’t buy into failed plain tobacco packaging, The Hill, 15 December 2017, accessed July 2019
  7. ↑B.Wirtz, What the tobacco industry did for women, website, 30 January 2017, accessed July 2019
  8. ↑American Legislative Exchange Council, About ALEC, website, undated, accessed July 2019
  9. ↑ALEC exposed, Center for Media and Democracy, undated, accessed July 2019
  10. ↑abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz{|Think tank database, The Guardian, 23 January 2019, accessed July 2019
  11. ↑abcdefghiAltria, Altria Grantees List, website, undated, accessed July 2019
  12. ↑American Enterprise Institute, About, website undated, accessed July 2019
  13. ↑S.Satel, Big Tobacco is giving away money: researchers should take it, AEI website, 8 December 2016, accessed July 2019
  14. ↑R.Bate, Pakistan’s tobacco folly, AEI website, 21 June 2018, accessed July 2019
  15. ↑R.Bate. Large cigarette tax hikes, illicit producers and organized crime, AEI website, June 2018, accessed July 2019
  16. ↑Americans for Prosperity Foundation, About, website, undated, accessed July 2019
  17. ↑Altria, Grants Recipients 2012, website, accessed July 2019
  18. ↑A.Fallin, R. Grana and S.Glantz To quarterback behind the scenes, third-party efforts’: the tobacco industry and the Tea Party, Tobacco Control, Volume 23, Issue 4, accessed July 2019
  19. ↑Americans for Tax Reform, About, website, undated, accessed July 2019
  20. ↑US Food and Drug Administation, Comment from ATR, 28 September 2017, accessed July 2019
  21. ↑Buckeye Institute, About, website, undated, accessed July 2019
  22. ↑L.Spitzwieser, Increasing the cigarette tax will send Ohio’s budget up in smoke, Buckeye Institute website, 19 May 2017, accessed July 2019
  23. ↑Columbus bar files lawsuit against smoking ban, The Blade, 20 September 2009, accessed July 2019
  24. ↑C.Malcolm, ONTARIO IS THE POSTER CHILD OF BAD TOBACCO POLICIES, Canadian Taxpayers Federation website, 13 January 2014, accessed July 2019
  25. ↑abcdefgCoalition of 62 think tanks, 5 Years of Failure. Global Coalition Letter Against Plain Packaging, Property Rights Alliance website, 22 March 2018, accessed October 2022
  26. ↑State Legislature, Testimony, website, 11 March 2015, accessed July 2019
  27. ↑abAltria, Grantees List 2013, website, accessed July 2019
  28. ↑Unknown, Third party message development contact list, Industry Documents Library, October 1998, accessed July 2019, Bates Number:2078212310-2078212322
  29. ↑Altria, Grantees List 2016, website, accessed July 2019
  30. ↑American Experiment,  Search returns for smoking articles, undated, website, accessed July 2019
  31. ↑Freedom Foundation, About Us, website, undated, accessed July 2019
  32. ↑Raising the Cigarette Tax is Bad Policy, FreedomWorks, press release, 11 September 2006, accessed December 2023
  33. ↑C. Ybarra, Democrats’ Socialist Spending Spree Goes After Tobacco Consumers, FreedomWorks, blog, 17 September 2021, accessed December 2023
  34. ↑FreedomWorks Foundation Statement in Response to FDA Approving the Marketing of IQOS as Modified Risk Tobacco Product, FreedomWorks, press release, 7 July 2020, accessed December 2023
  35. ↑B. McKittrick, FreedomWorks Foundation Submits Comment Opposing FDA Menthol Cigarette Ban, Freedom Works, blog, 2 August 2022, accessed December 2023
  36. ↑E. Pilkington, Republicans steal Barack Obama’s internet campaigning tricks, The Guardian, 18 September 2009, accessed December 2023
  37. ↑Georgia Public Policy Foundation, Articles on smoking, website, undated, accessed July 2019
  38. ↑B.Dodd, Technology can trump tough love, Georgia Public Policy Foundation website, 5 January 2018, accessed July 2019
  39. ↑Altria, Grantees List 2016, website, accessed July 2018
  40. ↑US Food and Drug Administration, TPSAC Transcript, Hearing transcript, p398, 25 January 2018, accessed July 2019
  41. ↑F.Nuar and M.LaFaive, Legislators should cut spending instead of increasing tobacco taxes, Grassroot Institute of Hawaii website, 28 November 2001, accessed July 2019
  42. ↑K.Akina, Confucius got it right: more law is not the key to health & virtue, Hawaii Free Press, 6 January 2016, accessed July 2019
  43. ↑Heartland Institute, Consumer Freedom Lounge, website, undated, accessed July 2019
  44. ↑Heritage Foundation, About Heritage, website, undated, accessed July 2019
  45. ↑US Food and Drug Administration, Testimony, 25 January 2018, accessed July 2019
  46. ↑Idaho Freedom Foundation, About IFF, web site, undated, accessed July 2019
  47. ↑B.Russell, Testimony: ‘Bad for our business’, ‘A serious issue’, ‘As dangerous as any enemy’, The Spokesman-Review, 14 February 2018, accessed July 2019
  48. ↑Idaho Freedom Foundation, Freedom Index, website, undated, accessed July 2019
  49. ↑Illinois Policy Institute, Our Story, website, undated, accessed July 2019
  50. ↑N.Hamilton, The Tobacco Quitline’s admirable work is already being carried out at no cost to taxpayers, Illinois Policy Institute website, 12 June 2015, accessed July 2019
  51. ↑V.Caruso, ILLINOIS LAWMAKERS REKINDLE EFFORTS TO RAISE TOBACCO PURCHASE AGE TO 21, Illinois Policy Institute, website, 29 January 2019, accessed July 2019
  52. ↑M.LaFaive and T.Nesbit, Cigarette smuggling to rocket with tobacco tax hike, Independence Institute website, 25 August 2016, accessed July 2019
  53. ↑abcJ.Smith, S.Thompson and K.Lee, The Atlas Network: a “strategic ally” of the tobacco industry, International Journal of Health Planning and Management, 28 April 2016, accessed July 2019
  54. ↑abcUS Food and Drug Administration,, TPSAC Transcript, Testimony, 25 January 2018, accessed July 2019
  55. ↑J.Gunlock, Michael Bloomberg should embrace vaping to support World No Tobacco Day, Independent Women’s Forum website, 30 May 2018, accessed July 2019
  56. ↑S.Nuzzo and G.Bentley, E-cigarettes not in the same category as cigarettes, Sun Sentinel, 22 March 2019, accessed July 2019
  57. ↑A.Cline, Expanding the tobacco tax to non-tobacco products is bad policy, Josiah Bartlett Centre website, 17 July 2019, accessed July 2019
  58. ↑T.Nesbit and M.LaFaive, An empire of smuggled smokes, Mackinac Center website, 24 March, 2017, accessed July 2019
  59. ↑Mackinac Center, Updated research highlights impact of cigarette tax evasion, website, 13 April 2018, accessed July 2019
  60. ↑M.LaFaive, T.Nesbit and S. Drenkard, Cigarette Taxes and Smuggling: A 2016 Update, Mackinac Center website, 9 January 2017, accessed July 2019
  61. ↑C.Hughes, E-Cigarettes reduce adult smoking, E21, 29 May 2018, accessed July 2019
  62. ↑Unknown, Junk science and the courts: a conference, Industry Documents Library, June 1995, accessed July 2019, Bates Number:2048751250
  63. ↑Mercatus Center, About, website, undated, accessed July 2019
  64. ↑M.Lafaive, Prohibition by price, Mackinac Center for Public Policy website, 2018, accessed July 2019
  65. ↑J.Steir, Observers, press kicked out of United Nations tobacco conference in Moscow, National Center for Public Policy Research website, 22 October 2014, accessed July 2019
  66. ↑Philip Morris, National Allies, Tobacco Truth Industry Documents, February 2000, accessed July 2019, Bates Number:2077285645-2077285646
  67. ↑Platte Institute, About, website, undated, accessed July 2019
  68. ↑A.Weinberg, Highlight of the 2016 session, Platte Institure website, 11 April 2016, accessed July 2019
  69. ↑M.McClellan, Up in Smoke: Nebraska’s Inappropriate Use of Tobacco Settlement Funds, Platte Institute website, 19 July 2019, accessed July 2019
  70. ↑Altria, 2017 grantees list, undated, accessed July 2019
  71. ↑R Street Institute, website, undated, accessed July 2019
  72. ↑R Street Institute, Harm Reduction, website, undated, accessed July 2019
  73. ↑C.Wade, R Street Institute applauds new FDA comprehensive tobacco and nicotine announcement, R Street Institute website, 28 July 2017, accessed July 2019
  74. ↑Altria, grantees list, undated, accessed July 2019
  75. ↑Reason Foundation, About, website, undated, accessed July 2019
  76. ↑A.Moore and S.Purnell, Proposition 56: Cigarette Tax to Fund Health Care, Tobacco Use Prevention, Research, and Law Enforcement, Reason Foundation website, 17 October 2016, accessed July 2019
  77. ↑Reason Foundation, Guy Bentley, website, undated, accessed July 2019
  78. ↑P.Lemieux, Consumer Surplus in the FDA’s Tobacco Regulations, Reason Foundation website, 27 June 2019, accessed July 2019
  79. ↑G.Bentley, Harm reduction advocates have won a series of victories defeating flavor bans in Illinois, Connecticut, Maine, and New York, Reason Foundation website, 28 June 2019, accessed July 2019
  80. ↑Rio Grande Foundation, Home page, website, undated, accessed July 2019
  81. ↑D.Muska, New Mexico liberals’ tax hypocrisy, Rio Grande Foundation website, 12 March 2016, accessed July 2019
  82. ↑Altria, 2018 grantees list, website undated, accessed July 2019
  83. ↑State Policy Network, Directory, website undated, accessed July 2019
  84. ↑State Policy Network, Annual Meeting Agenda, website, undated, accessed July 2019
  85. ↑R.Wilce, State Policy Networks cosy relationship with big tobacco, PRWatch, 16 December 2013, accessed July 2019
  86. ↑Altria, 2018 Grantees List, website, undated, accessed July 2019
  87. ↑Tax Foundation, About Us, website, undated, accessed July 2019
  88. ↑Tax Foundation, Cigarette tax as a revenue tool, website, accessed July 2019
  89. ↑U. Boesen, Federal Menthol Cigarette Ban May Cost Governments $6.6 Billion, Tax Foundation website, 2 March 2022, accessed March 2022
  90. ↑S.Drenkard, Cigarette Taxes and Cigarette Smuggling by State, 2015, Tax Foundation website, 6 November 2017, accessed July 2019
  91. ↑Tax Foundation, Financials, website, undated, accessed July 2019
  92. ↑Altria, 2020 grantees list, website, undated, accessed March 2022
  93. ↑TechFreedom, Congress can save e-vapor, save lives, website, 17 January 2017, accessed July 2019
  94. ↑US Food and Drug Adminisration, Comment from Graham Owens, Regulations.gov website, 3 January 2018, accessed July 2019
  95. ↑Thomas Jefferson Institute for Public Policy, Mission, website, undated, accessed July 2019
  96. ↑Thomas Jefferson Institute, Cigarette Tax Study, April 2019, accessed July 2019
  97. ↑Washington Policy Center, website, undated, accessed July 2019
  98. ↑M.Lafaive and T.Nesbit, Tax hike on cigarettes would exacerbate an already large smuggling problem in Washington state and offer only little gains to public health, Washington Policy Center website, 25 March 2015, accessed July 2019
  99. ↑CEDICE, Allies and Partners, website, undated, accessed July 2019
  100. ↑Free-Market groups and the tobacco industry, CEDICE, website, 2019, accessed July 2019
  101. ↑Contribuyentes por Respeto, About us, website, undated, accessed July 2019
  102. ↑Contribuyentes por Respeto, Tobacco control Act 2012 Peru,  2012, accessed July 2019
  103. ↑Free-Market groups and the tobacco industry, Contribuyentes por Respeto, website, 2019, accessed July 2019
  104. ↑Fundación Atlas, About us, website, undated, accessed July 2019
  105. ↑Free-Market groups and the tobacco industry, Fundacion Atlas 1853, website, 2019, accessed July 2019
  106. ↑Free-Market groups and the tobacco industry, Fundacion Eleutera, website, 2019, accessed July 2019
  107. ↑Fundación Eleutera, Fundación Eleutera, website, undated, accessed July 2019
  108. ↑Fundacion Libertad, Members and Partners, website, undated, accessed July 2019
  109. ↑Free-Market groups and the tobacco industry, Fundacion Libertad, website, 2019, accessed July 2019
  110. ↑Fundacion para el Progreso, Networks and allies, website, undated, accessed July 2019
  111. ↑Free-Market groups and the tobacco industry, Fundacion para el Progreso, website, 2019, accessed July 2019
  112. ↑Libertad y Desarrollo, Libertad y Desarrollo, website, undated, accessed July 2019
  113. ↑Carlos Francisco Caceres Contreras, Market Screener, accessed July 2019
  114. ↑A. Arellano, Link between BAT and Libertad y Desarrollo, Ciper Chile, 04 April 2014, accessed July 2019
  115. ↑Libertad y Progreso, Donations and Funding, website, undated, accessed July 2019
  116. ↑International Center for Policy Studies, About ICPS, website undated, accessed January 2020
  117. ↑Philip Morris International, PMI Charitable Contributions 2014, 2014, accessed January 2020
  118. ↑International Center for Policy Studies, Tobacco Research ICPS, 10 December 2014, accessed January 2020. Available from Issu.com
  119. ↑Ukrainian Economic Freedoms Foundation, Jed Sunden, undated, accessed July 2019
  120. ↑abcdeCoalition of 47 think tanks, International coalition letter against plain packaging, 2 June 2016, accessed May 2022
  121. ↑abPhilip Morris International, Charitable Contributions, undated, accessed July 2019
  122. ↑Philip Morris International, Charitable donations 2018, undated, accessed July 2019
  123. ↑Warsaw Enterprise Institute, We’re opening the Freedom Lounge, 12 October 2018, accessed July 2019
  124. ↑Institute for Development of Economics and Finance, Post-PMK 146/2017: Tobacco Industry, website, August 2018, accessed July 2019
  125. ↑SEATCA, Plain packaging advances libertarian groups resume opposition, website, 13 April 2018, accessed July 2019
  126. ↑Institute for Democracy and Economic Affairs, IDEA Funding, 2018, accessed July 2019
  127. ↑Institute for Democracy and Economic Affairs, Open Letter on Funding Sources and independence, January 2019, archived December 2021, accessed October 2022
  128. ↑Atlas Network, Prime, website, undated, accessed July 2019
  129. ↑Egyptian Center for Public Policy Studies, Plain Packaging opposition, 2016, accessed July 2019
  130. ↑Free Market Foundation, Tobacco control opposition, multiple dates, accessed July 2019
  131. ↑Imani Center, Imani, 2016, accessed July 2019
  132. ↑Institute of Public Affairs, Institute of Public Affairs, website, undated, accessed July 2019
  133. ↑Institute of Public Affairs, Tobacco history, multiple dates, accessed July 2019

Categories