British American Tobacco (BAT) has started an attempt to portray itself as a socially responsible company. The company has been holding a series of “stakeholder” meetings to gather input for its first corporate social responsibility report scheduled for release in April 2002. Health groups, which boycotted the meetings, are sceptical about its aims, however.

The meetings have been held over the past two months in 15 countries, including the United Kingdom, Australia, and the United States.

BAT contracted Durham Ethics, a business consultancy involving former Bishop of Durham David Jenkins and Reverend Charles …