in today's lecture, we will discuss the importance of policies that have been in place since before widespread tobacco regulation, or what we might refer to as predissolutionary policies. these policies, though often not openly acknowledged or unavowed, set the groundwork for how society begins to regulate substances like tobacco. it's crucial to disaffirm any misconceptions about the effectiveness of these early strategies. we start from the commencement point of understanding the historical context to appreciate the evolution of public health measures.