Organisation & Purpose

• Developed by the Tobacco Control Research Group (TCRG) at the University of Bath, UK.
• Launched in 2012 as a knowledge-exchange platform to monitor, collate and publish rigorous academic research and industry monitoring on the global tobacco sector.

Target Audience

• Researchers, public health policy-makers, journalists, advocates.
• Also of interest to institutions needing insight into commercial influences on policy, corporate behaviour, regulation (including finance, regulatory compliance).

What It Offers

• Profiles of tobacco companies, their products, tactics, allies, and front groups.
• Analysis of themes such as taxation, industry interference, new tobacco/nicotine products, illicit trade, product design.
• “Early-access” public dissemination of findings (faster than traditional academic publishing).
• Tools, long-reads, country profiles, updates and a whistle-blower-friendly portal.

Relevance to Finance Professionals

• Risk assessment: Helps in evaluating financial risks linked to regulatory changes (taxation, packaging, product bans) in tobacco/nicotine industries.
• Due diligence & ESG (Environmental, Social, Governance): Useful for companies and investors to assess links between corporate entities and tobacco‐industry lobbying, conflicts of interest or hidden partnerships.
• Policy impact forecasting: Provides data to anticipate policy shifts that could affect profitability, tax burdens or legal liabilities in countries with strong tobacco regulation.
• Revenue modelling: Insights into how tobacco companies use pricing strategies, brand variants and pack sizes to absorb taxes or dampen regulatory impact.
• Transparency & litigation risks: Identifying tactics such as information management, coalition management and influence over science which may expose companies to reputational or legal risk.