British American Tobacco and Formula One motor racing

Sir,

In light of reports of alarming numbers of tobacco related deaths in
developing countries [1,2], it is clear that as medical professionals, we
must be advocates for the prohibition of tobacco advertising and cessation
of tobacco usage.

While many western countries are in phase three or four of the
tobacco epidemic [3], maintaining the falling uptake of smoking by young
men is very important [4]. Conversely, in developing countries in phases
one and two of the tobacco epidemic, prevention of smoking uptake in young
men should be a priority if we are to avoid an epidemic of smoking related
disease [5].

Since young people "males in particular" are most likely to
commence smoking [6], and that tobacco sponsorship of motor sports remains
an efficient way of reaching boys and young men [7], it is imperative that
the prohibition of tobacco sponsorship and advertising in sport is a
priority.

Given the global coverage of Formula One, prohibition of tobacco
sponsorship of all teams and at all races would be an ideal situation, an
area of policy that the Federation Internationale De L'Automobile
(F1's governing body) is in the process of implementing by 2006 [8]. It
is in keeping with their existing statements on sustainable energy,
climate change, and road safety/accident prevention9 as a matter of global
social responsibility.

In Formula One, 13 of 18 races in 2004 races occur in Western
countries. Some governments of host nations have already prohibited the
advertising of tobacco (such as Canada and Belgium) during motor races,
while others have not. Governments of countries in the latter half of the
tobacco epidemic are well placed to lead the way in prohibition of
advertising and should implement bans across all forms of motor sport.

As health care professionals, we are uniquely placed as both
advocates to our patients and advocates to our governments. The more
people we support to quit smoking, the greater the acceptance of smoking
diminishes in the broader community.

--

References

1. Dobson R. Annual tobacco deaths in poor countries to reach 7
million by 2030. BMJ 2004;329:71

2. Asma S, Mensah GA, Warren CW. Henson R. Tobacco use and the
cardiovascular disease epidemic in developing countries: global crises and
opportunity in the making. Ethnicity & Disease. 2003;13(2 Suppl 2):S81
-7.

3. Lopez AD, Collishaw NE, Phia T. A descriptive model of the
cigarette epidemic in developed countries. Tobacco Control. 1994; 3; 242-
247.

4. Charlton A. Changing patterns of cigarette smoking among teenagers
and young adults. Paediatric Respiratory Reviews. 2001 Sep. 2(3):214-21.

5. Tamim H, Musharrafieh U, Almawi WY. Smoking among adolescents in a
developing country.Australian & New Zealand Journal of Public Health.
2001 Apr. 25(2):185-6.

6. Carlton A, While D, Kelly S. Boys' smoking and cigarette-brand-
sponsored motor racing. The Lancet. 1779;350(9089) 15.

7. Carlyle J, Collin J, Muggli ME, Hurt RD. British American Tobacco
and Formula One motor racing. BMJ. 2004; 329: 104-106.

8. FIA Official Press Release The 2003 Belgian Grand Prix
http://www.fia.com/mediacentre/Press_Releases/FIA_Sport/2002/291002-
01.html

9. FIA Mobility http://www.fia.com/mobility/Policy

Competing interests:
None declared