BMJ  2004;329:104-106 (10 July), doi:10.1136/bmj.329.7457.104

Education and debate

British American Tobacco and Formula One motor racing

¹ Minneapolis MN 55409, USA, ² Centre on Global Change and Health, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London WC1E 7HT, ³ Nicotine Research Program, Mayo Clinic, Rochester MN 55905, USA, ⁴ Nicotine Dependence Center, Mayo Clinic

Internal documents show that British American Tobacco's racing team has been successful in promoting the company's products, especially in emerging countries. Tougher worldwide action is needed to counter the tobacco industry's influence in Formula One

The first 150 words of the full text of this article appear below.

Introduction

Sponsorship of sport has become central to the marketing operations of transnational tobacco companies as more direct forms of tobacco advertising have been curtailed by regulation.^1-4 Tobacco sponsorship of motor sports remains an efficient way to reach boys² and young men.³ The influence of tobacco companies has contributed to races increasingly being held in emerging markets throughout Asia that have minimal regulation or negotiated exemptions; races in more regulated countries such as Austria, Belgium, and Canada have been threatened or withdrawn.^w1-3 In 1999, a new development emerged, when British American Tobacco (BAT) established its own Formula One racing team, British American Racing. Sponsorship of Formula One motor racing by tobacco companies is thus a powerful challenge to public health legislation aimed at reducing smoking.⁵

British American Racing

Unlike the tobacco sponsors of other Formula One racing teams, BAT is the majority shareholder in the British American Racing company.⁶ To ensure that its association . . . [Full text of this article]

Benefits of sponsorship for BAT

Media and merchandising

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Reaching emerging markets

Discussion

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Rapid Responses:

Read all Rapid Responses

Japan Tobacco Inc. and motor sports

Hiroshi Kawane, et al.
bmj.com, 12 Jul 2004 [Full text]

F1 also encourages cessation of smoking.

Brian P Gardner
bmj.com, 18 Jul 2004 [Full text]

Doctors must advocate for prohibition of tobacco advertising in the community

Joey Q N Le, et al.
bmj.com, 26 Jul 2004 [Full text]

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