1492

Christopher Columbus returns to Europe with tobacco from the Americas

1531

Tobacco is cultivated in Europe

1604

King James I of England publishes an anti-tobacco publication commenting on lung irritations and second-hand smoke

1730

First American tobacco companies are established in Virginia

1788

Tobacco arrives in Australia with the First Fleet

1854

London tobacconist Philip Morris starts making his own cigarettes

1913

USA – birth of the modern cigarette: RJ Reynolds introduces the Camel brand

1950

In the US and UK 3 studies provide the first powerful links between smoking and lung cancer:

• Mortin Levin et al.“ Cancer and tobacco smoking: a preliminary report” links smoking to lung cancer
• Ernst Wynder and Evarts Graham “Tobacco smoking as a possible etiological factor in bronchogenic carcinoma: a study of six hundred and eighty-four proved cases” finds 96.5% of lung cancer patients interviewed are heavy smokers
• Richard Doll and Bradford Hill “ Smoking and carcinoma of the lung: preliminary report” find that heavy smokers were 50 times as likely as non-smokers to contract lung cancer

1953

US Tobacco executives plan counter attack on smoking studies

1964

In the US, first Surgeon General Report on Smoking and Health

1971

The Cancer Council Victoria produces a series of anti-smokingTV ads

1973

First health warning appears on cigarette packs
“Warning – smoking is a health hazard”

1976

Tobacco advertising is banned on tv and radio
In the UK Doll and Peto publish results of a 20 year study of smokers and conclude that 1 in 3 die from the habit

1983

In the US, first evidence discovered of tobacco companies targeting youth

1985

First Quit campaign established in Victoria

1986

Phasing out of smoking in federal workplaces begins

1987

Victoria is the first state to use tobacco tax to create a health foundation to counter tobacco

1988

First WHO World No Tobacco Day held on 31 May

1991

Federal court finds passive smoking causes lung cancer, asthma attacks and respiratory disease in young children

1992

Tobacco Advertising Prohibition Act decrees no advertising or promotion of tobacco products in Australia

1993

In the US the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) declares cigarette smoke a Class-A carcinogen

1994

USA CEO’s of cigarette companies testify before Congress that they do not think nicotine is addictive.

1995

All remaining tobacco sponsorship removed except for events of “international significance”
In the US the Federal Drug Agency declares nicotine a drug

1998

Under the Master Settlement Agreement in the US, seven tobacco companies agreed to change the way tobacco products are marketed and pay the states an estimated US$206 billion. The tobacco companies also agreed to finance a $1.5 billion anti-smoking campaign, open previously secret industry documents, and disband industry trade groups which Attorneys General maintain conspired to conceal damaging research from the public.

2000

In NSW the Smoke-free Environment Act 2000 prohibits smoking in a range of enclosed public places including, restaurants, shopping malls, cinemas and theatres

2007

In NSW all areas of hotels, clubs, and nightclubs that are open to the general public and defined as enclosed must be completely non-smoking by 2 July 2007