Two of the world’s four largest tobacco companies - British American Tobacco (2nd) and Imperial Brands (formerly Imperial Tobacco) (4th) - are based in the UK. Japan Tobacco International, the third largest global tobacco company (excluding China), owns the former UK-based multinational company Gallaher.
Companies have been a major obstacle in the global fight against tobacco, first driving the mass consumption of tobacco around the world and then, when the evidence of harm emerged, working to obscure the evidence and prevent regulation.