Smoking has been an adult pursuit for hundreds of years -- even after health and scientific studies have demonstrated that the consequences can be very serious to smokers, and possibly others exposed to tobacco smoke. That's why our company has always been up-front about the risks of smoking. Here are our thoughts on a few important issues. Do we think people should smoke? We believe that smoking is an individual choice that should be made by an informed adult. It isn't for us to decide what's right or wrong for you -- just like we shouldn't decide if you should go skiing or eat high-fat foods. But we can tell you that, in spite of all the public information about the health risks, one in four Americans still enjoys smoking. (The percentage is even higher in other countries.) For people who decide to smoke, the pleasures must outweigh the risks. Like it or not, the decision to smoke is a legally protected right for adults, a right this company will fight to protect. Still, if we could offer you some advice: If you don't smoke, don't start. And if you do smoke, you should think about quitting. There are some terrific products available to help you quit. See your doctor or pharmacist for advice. If you choose to smoke, we appreciate your trying Bailey's. We give you a "Premium Smoke at an Honest Price."™ Is tobacco or nicotine addictive? The controversy here is more about the definition of "addictive" than anything else. We're not sure the label is all that important. The truth is, some people can smoke occasionally and stop any time, while others find it nearly impossible to quit. This is no revelation. At Bailey's, one thing's for certain -- we do not use artificial additives (such as liquid nicotine or ammonia) to make our cigarettes harder to put down. We use no reconstituted tobacco. Bailey's cigarettes are made with only natural leaf tobacco, which makes for a superior smoke. What about second-hand smoke? The potential harm of second-hand smoke has been noted for decades. But even if it weren't harmful, many non-smokers find cigarette smoke unpleasant, while young children and older adults may not be able to tolerate its effects (or ask you to stop). We hope that anyone who smokes Bailey's cigarettes is considerate when smoking near others. As Southerners, we believe that a little courtesy goes a long way. Have we thought about making "safe" cigarettes? First, there's no such thing -- yet -- as a safe cigarette. Still, from time to time tobacco companies have produced cigarettes with reduced carcinogens. Unfortunately, the public wasn't interested -- these cigarettes didn't provide the experience smokers were looking for. But we are all hoping to develop new ways to reduce the risks. In fact, Bailey's has been instrumental in creating a process that reduces the presence of nitrosamines, a major carcinogen universally present in tobacco. We're hoping this tobacco will become widely available on the market soon, so we can fully incorporate it into our products. This and other scientific advances may someday reduce the risks associated with smoking cigarettes. Until science establishes that reduced-risk smoking products are truly available, we urge you not to start smoking or increase the amount you do smoke. Are "light" cigarettes better? All things being equal, a light cigarette will deliver lower amounts of tar and nicotine. But how you smoke really makes a difference -- if you lightly puff a full-flavor cigarette, you may take in less of these harmful substances than someone who deeply inhales a light cigarette. Because smokers smoke so differently, and thus take in different levels of tar and nicotine, we have never advertised these levels on our packs. "Light" is a flavor description only. So don't be misled. All cigarettes are harmful. What about underage smoking? We can't emphasize this enough -- we don't market or sell our products to youth. We support tough penalties for retailers who sell to minors. And we won't sell over the internet until we're certain that we can verify the age of each and every purchaser. The choice to smoke, weighing pleasures and risks, is an adult decision.