[Licensed-to-Kill] Company Calls for 'More Smoke, Less Health' in Nation's Capitol

[Licensed to Kill, Inc]

Last night, a town hall forum was held in the nation's capitol to inform
City Councilmember Jim Graham's position on smokefree workplace
legislation. Licensed to Kill was there to send a strong message to
Graham, who has been waffling on the issue for years, that it's high
time he stood up for 'More Smoke, Less Health!'

Before the event, Licensed to Kill executives distributed press releases
to forum attendees, including Graham's aides, as they entered the
Lincoln Theater. See below for the text of the press release or click
on: http://www.licensedtokill.biz/media/pr050609.pdf

The Licensed to Kill execs also carried signs saying "More Smoke, Less
Health!" and "Keep DC Smoke-Full!"
http://www.licensedtokill.biz/photos/dc/moresmoke.JPG
http://www.licensedtokill.biz/photos/dc/smokefull.JPG

While many people wearing "I'd Love a Smokefree DC!" stickers were
perturbed by Licensed to Kill's views, the company's pro-pollution
stance was readily embraced by several supporters of the group "Ban the
Ban," which has been admirably championing the right of restaurants and
bars to maintain toxic workplace environments. One "Ban the Ban" fan of
our company posed with Licensed to Kill execs, expressing agreement with
the sentiments on our sign:
http://www.licensedtokill.biz/photos/dc/moresmoke2.JPG

Unfortunately, after over an hour and half of testimony and Q & A,
Councilmember Graham surprised the audience by declaring his support for
a comprehensive smokefree workplace law. "What it comes down to is that
this is a health issue," he said. "The evidence is clear that secondhand
smoke makes people sick, and in many cases people die as a result. So
whatever we're going to do has to be mandated, it has to be informed by
that essential piece of information."

Licensed to Kill is outraged that Councilmember Graham has gone to the
"dark side" -- joining the regrettably growing ranks of politicians who
put the health of people above the health of the tobacco industry.
Following the close of the forum, Licensed to Kill approached Graham to
express our company's great disappointment with his decision. We
encouraged him to read our press release and reconsider his position,
but he said he had already received a copy.

###

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: June 9, 2005
CONTACT: Cora Prutspin, Senior VP of Corporate Communications
tobacco@licensedtokill.biz


TOBACCO COMPANY TO DC COUNCILMEMBER GRAHAM: STOP SPREAD OF CLEAN INDOOR
AIR INTO NATION=92S CAPITOL!

Licensed to Kill Calls for 'More Smoke, Less Health!'

WASHINGTON, DC =96 Executives of the Virginia-based tobacco company
Licensed to Kill, Inc are in the nation's capitol today to lobby DC city
council member Jim Graham against supporting smokefree workplace
legislation. Graham (Ward 1), who has not yet made up is mind how he
will vote, is holding a town hall forum on the legislation at the
Lincoln Theater this evening.

"We presume that Mr. Graham has been receiving considerable mail in
support of the legislation," said Licensed to Kill=92s Chairman and CEO
Rich Fromdeth, "but if he cares at all about the health of the tobacco
industry, he will take a stand for maintaining the smoky status quo."

"Washington, DC remains a critical east coast haven for tobacco smoke
pollution," continued Fromdeth, "Practically the entire northeast has
become a smokefree zone -- Delaware, New York, Connecticut, Maine,
Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and most recently Vermont . Even nearby
Montgomery county has banished the carcinogenic plumes of our industry=92s
poison puffs. This has got to stop! If DC stands firm, perhaps the clean
indoor air zone can be contained and prevented from spreading further
south."

"Many restaurant and bar workers and patrons seem to have a bone to pick
about Class A (the deadliest!) carcinogens wafting in the air," said
Cora Prutspin, Licensed to Kill=92s Senior VP of Corporate Communications,
"The solution is really quite simple: just don=92t breathe! Our research
indicates it is possible to chow down, guzzle drinks and not breathe far
longer than commonly thought. In fact, many of our own best customers
have stopped breathing all together."

"Honestly, who really cares if tobacco smoke pollution kills a few
bartenders and waiters? We=92re glad that Carol Schwartz doesn=92t,"
continued Prutspin, "It=92s time that Council Member Graham stop teeter
tottering on the fence and accept that these deaths are merely the
unfortunate, but inevitable, collateral damage of the liberty to
pollute, er smoke free-ly, in workplaces."

"Unlike our industry rival, Altria (parent company of Philip Morris)
which gave the Metropolitan Restaurant Association of Washington $10,000
for its awards ceremony last week, Licensed to Kill believes in direct
lobbying," said Virginia Slime, Senior VP of Marketing, "That=92s why
we=92re attending the forum today -- no third party front groups for us!"

"Why do we care so much? Bad air means good business for us. The more
workplaces where people can smoke, the more cigarettes sold, the more
money we make," said Slime, "Smokefree legislation is spreading like
wildfire across the country. We need to stub it out =96 the legislation
that is, NOT the cigarettes."

####

About Licensed to Kill: Licensed to Kill, Inc is a real company. It was
incorporated in the state of Virginia in March 2003. The purpose of the
company, as stated in its articles of incorporation, is "to manufacture
and market tobacco products in a way that each year kills over 400,000
Americans and 4.5 million other persons worldwide." The company's slogan
is: We're Rich, You're Dead! =99 For more information about Licensed to
Kill visit www.licensedtokill.biz or email tobacco@licensedtokill.biz