Anything but 'empowerment'? Smokers, tar and nicotine data and cigarette design

While there are important differences between the public health policies of Conservative governments of the 1980s and 90s and the current British Labo ur government a significant element of continuity is the emphasis on govern ment facilitating informed choice by consumers as a key public health objec tive. The article considers such approaches to disclosure of health risks w ith respect to policy on the regulation of smoking. It argues that regulati on, in this area, under the Conservatives has not served to 'empower' consu mers and that such regulatory weaknesses appear to be replicated under its successor. Defects in regulation are traced with respect to disclosure of i nformation on tar and nicotine 'yields'; and cigarette design with respect to tip ventilation and the use of additives to increase nicotine delivery. It is argued that lack of disclosure and insufficient controls on the indus try have led to consumers being misled concerning the relative risks of dif ferent types of cigarette. Equally, it is also likely that such deficiencie s have enabled manufacturers to represent some cigarette types as 'safe'. T he paper concludes by arguing that, while the weaknesses of the current reg ulatory regime suggest the need for measures of increased disclosure and co ntrol of product design, there is also an unresolved tension as to whether 'empowerment' is an intrinsic goal of policy or a means to the achievement of public health targets.