Philip Morris Is Breaking Its ‘f1 Promise’

Tobacco firm Philip Morris have come under pressure for its continued
sponsorship of formula one from an anti smoking lobby group.

“Philip Morris International this year is the only tobacco company
that continues to sponsor Formula One auto races,” said Matthew L. Myers
President of the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids.

“This exposes spectators and
tens of millions of television viewers worldwide – including millions of
children – to the name, logo and red-and-white colours of the company’s
best-sellingMarlboro cigarettes. The Marlboro brand was prominently displayed on
the winning car and uniforms of the driver and pit crew at the Bahrain Grand
Prix on Sunday. No responsible company would continue to associate deadly and
addictive cigarettes with the excitement and glamour of auto racing,thereby
increasing their appeal to children”.

Myers went on to say that
Philip Morris’ sponsorship of Formula One violates the company’s own voluntary
marketing standards and circumvents the efforts of a growing number of countries
around the world to prohibit tobacco advertising, promotions and sponsorships,
as required by the international tobacco control treaty, the Framework
Convention on Tobacco Control.