Tobacco industry activity in Alaska

Alaska was of particular interest to Brown & Williamson circa 1998 because it's isolated geography made it a laboratory for consumer behavior in the face of cigarette price/tax increases. A March, 1998 Brown & Williamson report on Alaska says,

"Given Alaska's 'isolated' geography from other states, it is much more difficult to bring product in from other states. Therefore, Alaska provides a self-contained market to examine the effects of price on consumers and possible implications of a future national tobacco settlement."