The new sponsors « A Better Tomorrow "To British American Tobacco and " Winnow Mission "To Philip Morris with Formula 1 teams has caused a lot of talk in recent weeks. In the end it is'World Health Organization (WHO) which decided to intervene last Thursday by asking states and world sports federations to enforce the ban on all tobacco advertising in sporting events.
A WHO COMMUNIQUE DEMANDING COMPLIANCE WITH THE TOBACCO BAN
In a statement, the World Health Organization (WHO) demanded on Thursday that the ban on all tobacco advertising in sporting events be respected. This approach was aimed at States and world sports federations. WHO has stressed that this ban covers not only the organization of the sporting event, but also its broadcast on television.
This announcement comes as some tobacco companies have made a discreet return to Formula 1. After more than 10 years of absence, the group Philip Morris International (PMI) returned to Ferrari last October, while British American Tobacco (BAT) signed a partnership with McLaren. But there is no longer any question of displaying cigarette brands on cars. The tobacco companies are now promoting in F1 projects parallel to their main activity and less controversial products, such as electronic cigarettes.
For example, since the Japanese Grand Prix last October, Ferrari's single-seaters, drivers and members sport the logo of Winnow Mission », A scientific program by Philip Morris, which the company also offers for Ducati in MotoGP. McLaren will wear the logo " A Better Tomorrow ", A global platform to accelerate BAT's transformation program.
WHO has denounced these partnerships as disguised advertisements for tobacco-related products. She criticizes BAT in particular for promoting, via “A Better Tomorrow”, the glo, a tobacco product that heats up but does not burn. This " suggests that the intention of society is to promote tobacco use ", Estimates the WHO. She recalled that the definitions of “ tobacco advertising and promotion " are " broadly and cover activities that have the real or potential effect of promoting tobacco products or tobacco consumption, directly or indirectly ».
Source : L'equipe.fr
