The tobacco industry has in one way or another played a large part in the reputation of public affairs.

Despite their promise to clean up politics, in 1997 the Labour Party was forced to return a £1 million donation to the Formula One mogul Bernie Ecclestone. Following the Government's agreement with the EU on a ban on tobacco advertising, the Government surprisingly gave Formula One a temporary exemption from the ban until they found alternative funding. The media found out about the donation and the Government were hit by sleaze allegations although there was never any proof to back up the allegations.

In the USA front groups are set up by tobacco companies to target American smokers to lobby against anti-smoking laws.

In the film Thank You For Smoking (2005) Nick Naylor, the film's protagonist, is Vice-President and chief spokesperson for the Academy of Tobacco Studies which is responsible for researching the links between smoking cigarettes and health. The group, which is funded by cigarette companies, never finds any evidence that tobacco damages health and Nick Naylor has to battle with his conscience when it comes to his son. The film certainly doesn't help the lobbying industry's reputation.