That long-term cigarette smoking can lead to health problems including

That long-term cigarette smoking can lead to health problems including cancer and lung disease is a scientifically well-established fact. Contrary to what many people seem to believe, however, it is not necessary to deny this fact in order to reject the view that tobacco companies should be held either morally or legally responsible for the poor health of smokers. After all, excessive consumption of candy undeniably leads to such health problems as tooth decay, but no one seriously believes that candy eaters who get cavities should be able to sue candy manufacturers.

The reasoning in the argument is most vulnerable to criticism on the grounds that it


(A) fails to establish that the connection between tooth decay and candy eating is as scientifically well documented as that between smoking and the health problems suffered by smokers

(B) depends on the obviously false assumption that everyone who gets cavities does so only as a result of eating too much candy

(C) leaves undefined such critical qualifying terms as “excessive” and “long-term”

(D) attributes certain beliefs to “many people” without identifying the people who allegedly hold those beliefs

(E) fails to address the striking differences in the nature of the threat to health posed by tooth decay on the one hand and cancer and lung disease on the other