Final answer:
The claim that Hawkins and Drake brought tobacco to England in the 1570s is false; instead, Sir Walter Raleigh is often associated with popularizing tobacco in England.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement that English merchants Hawkins and Drake brought tobacco to England in the 1570s is false. It was Sir Walter Raleigh who is often credited with popularizing tobacco in England after its introduction. By 1580, tobacco had already spread throughout Europe from Spain to Turkey and then to other countries. The Virginia Company began exporting tobacco to Europe from Jamestown in 1614, which was a highly profitable venture. Despite King James I of England's denunciation of tobacco, its popularity continued to soar, and exports significantly increased over time. Tobacco soon achieved global commodity status due in part to the colonial efforts of multiple European powers.