{"id":353308,"date":"2016-04-04T10:46:47","date_gmt":"2016-04-04T15:46:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/content.findlaw-admin.com\/ability-law\/injury\/product-liability\/light-cigarettes.html"},"modified":"2025-10-15T19:26:00","modified_gmt":"2025-10-16T00:26:00","slug":"light-cigarettes","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/injury\/product-liability\/light-cigarettes.html","title":{"rendered":"Light Cigarettes: Health Risks and Legal Information"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Light Cigarettes: Health Risks and Legal Information<\/h1>\n\n
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\n By Christie Nicholson, J.D.<\/a> | Legally reviewed by Oni Harton, J.D.<\/a>\n | Last reviewed\n
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This article has been written and reviewed for legal accuracy, clarity, and style by FindLaw\u2019s team of legal writers and attorneys<\/a> and in accordance with our editorial standards<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n\n

\n \n <\/i>\n Fact-Checked\n <\/summary>\n\n
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The last updated date refers to the last time this article was reviewed by FindLaw or one of our contributing authors<\/a>. We make every effort to keep our articles updated. For information regarding a specific legal issue affecting you, please contact an attorney in your area<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n<\/section>\n\n\n

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The FDA<\/span> banned tobacco companies<\/span> from using terms like \u201clight\u201d or \u201clow tar<\/span>\u201d in cigarette labeling<\/span> in 2010 due to misleading health claims. Further, the Supreme Court ruled that smokers can sue in state court for deceptive advertising. Still, courts often side with tobacco companies<\/span>, making victories for plaintiffs<\/span> rare and slow.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Light cigarettes<\/span> have special filters designed to dilute cigarette smoke<\/span>. Tobacco companies<\/span> refer to them as\u00a0low-tar<\/span>,\u00a0mild,\u00a0or\u00a0ultra-<\/span>light\u00a0cigarettes<\/span>. For example, R.J. Reynolds<\/span> sells both Marlboro and Marlboro Lights<\/span>. Many smokers\u00a0choose light cigarettes<\/span><\/a>\u00a0because they think they\u2019re less harmful, but this often isn\u2019t the case.<\/p>\n

Although light cigarettes<\/span> may feel smoother and lighter on the throat and chest, they pose just as many health risks<\/span> as other cigarettes. There is no such thing as a safe cigarette. Any cigarette presents public health<\/span> challenges. The only way to reduce your health risks<\/span>\u00a0and the threat to others through second-hand smoke<\/span>\u00a0is to\u00a0quit smoking<\/span><\/a>.<\/p>\n

This article discusses the risks of smoking light cigarettes<\/span><\/a>. It also explains why they are no safer than non-light cigarettes<\/span>. Finally, it describes whether you may have a valid claim against the tobacco companies<\/span> if you develop a smoking-related illness.<\/p>\n

Going up against a well-resourced tobacco company<\/span> will be an uphill battle. Consider consulting a product liability<\/span> attorney<\/a> near you for legal advice. You will want an experienced legal advocate by your side if you pursue legal action against a tobacco manufacturer<\/span>.<\/p>\n

Light Cigarette<\/span> Tar and Nicotine Numbers<\/h2>\n

You may think you can gauge which cigarettes are safe by looking at the tar and nicotine yield<\/span> numbers on cigarette packs<\/span>. These numbers, listed in accordance with federal cigarette labeling<\/span> requirements, offer a reference point for comparing full-strength and light cigarettes<\/span>. They don\u2019t necessarily reflect the precise amount of these substances you inhale. The numbers are misleading with respect to the health benefits of light cigarettes<\/span>.<\/p>\n

When you look for a\u00a0nicotine yield<\/span><\/a>\u00a0number on a cigarette package<\/span>, you assume it indicates the chemicals in the cigarette. Tobacco companies<\/span> use smoking machines to determine tar and nicotine yields<\/span>.<\/p>\n

These machines\u00a0smoke\u00a0every brand of cigarette in the same way. Smokers, unlike machines, crave nicotine. They may inhale more deeply than the machines. They may also take larger, more rapid, or more frequent puffs<\/span>.<\/p>\n

Some people smoke a few extra cigarettes every day to make up for the lower nicotine. This means they may inhale more tar, nicotine, and other harmful chemicals than the machine-based numbers suggest.<\/p>\n

Light cigarettes<\/span> also have tiny pinholes on their filters. These \u201cfilter vents\u201d dilute cigarette smoke<\/span> with air when \u201cpuffed\u201d by smoking machines. This results in artificially low measurements of tar and nicotine levels. When you block these vents, your light cigarette<\/span> becomes a regular cigarette<\/span>.<\/p>\n

Lastly, when cigarette makers increase the length of the paper filter wrap, they decrease the number of puffs during the machine test. The tobacco under the wrap is still available to the smoker and isn\u2019t burned during the machine test. As a result, the machine measures lower tar<\/span> and nicotine levels than are available to the smoker.<\/p>\n

Health Effects of Light Cigarettes<\/span><\/h2>\n

According to the\u00a0National Cancer Institute<\/span><\/a>, light cigarettes<\/span> provide no benefit to a smoker\u2019s health. Smokers who switch from regular cigarettes<\/span> to light cigarettes<\/span> inhale just as many dangerous chemicals. This leaves them at high risk of smoking-related cancers and other diseases.<\/p>\n

There is no evidence suggesting that switching to light cigarettes<\/span> will help smokers quit<\/span>. Quitting smoking<\/span>\u00a0reduces the risk of dying<\/a>\u00a0from lung cancer<\/span>.<\/p>\n

Existing Surgeon General<\/span> Warnings<\/h2>\n

The new FDA<\/span> regulations<\/a> were on top of the surgeon general<\/span> warnings that tobacco companies<\/span> must use. These warnings come from earlier tobacco litigation<\/span> and a settlement agreement between the government and Big Tobacco. The Supreme Court ruled that cigarette smokers had the right to know the health consequences of using tobacco. They said it was the duty of tobacco manufacturers<\/span> to educate them about these risks.<\/p>\n

The new rules are added to special regulations in recent years about marketing tobacco products<\/span> to young people. For example, the courts ordered Juul to stop advertising its products in various fruity flavors<\/a>. The federal courts<\/span> believed that this type of marketing increased the risk of young people smoking and using tobacco.<\/p>\n

The FDA<\/span> and New Labeling Rules<\/h2>\n

Until July 22, 2010, cigarette companies<\/span> could advertise and label their products as being any of the following:<\/p>\n