Health report attacks F1
Today's edition of the British Medical Journal includes a critical report on F1 cigarette sponsorship by a team under Richard Hurt, the director of the Nicotine Dependence Centre at the USA's Mayo Clinic. The report states: "F1 has abandoned its commitments to be free of tobacco sponsorship in 2006 and is establishing races in countries with fewer advertising regulations. Tougher worldwide action is needed to counter the tobacco industry's influence."
"Tobacco companies are relying more and more on sponsorship of motorsport to promote their products as more direct forms of marketing are curtailed."
In 1999, the report continues, British American Tobacco established its own F1 racing team, then known as British American Racing, and newly produced internal documents show that this programme had been successful in promoting the company's products: "BAT was able to develop the global appeal of its brands through extensive broadcast media coverage specifically directed at young people, merchandising proposals and activities aimed at children... and race sponsorships in emerging markets in Asia."
The report urges countries to ratify the World Health Organisation's Framework Convention on Tobacco Control to stop F1 racing from promoting tobacco products.
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