05/12/2014
NEWS STORY
European group seeking ban on alcohol sponsorship in F1 continues its attack despite FIA's attempt to distance itself.
Following the European Alcohol Policy Alliance (Eurocare) open letter to Jean Todt last month, in which the group called on the sport to address alcohol sponsorship, the FIA president responded claiming that while the sport has strict anti-doping rules, which include the use of alcohol, the management of the commercial rights of F1 have been licensed to the and that the candidate teams manage their own rights.
Citing Eurocare's fears in terms of the association between F1 and alcohol, Todt wrote: "I would remind you of the FIA's commitment to road safety, through the "Action for Road Safety" programme of which I have made a priority since my election in 2009, a programme which of course includes a dimension relating to the prevention and penalising of drink-driving."
This clearly didn't hold any water with the group's Secretary General, Mariann Skar, who has followed up on her previous letter.
"There seems to be a contradiction between the FIA's 'Action for Road Safety' programme and your reluctance to take any action on alcohol sponsorship in Formula One," she writes. "You state that the FIA has “no part at all in the management of the commercial rights of the Championship which have been licensed to the promoter”. However, the FIA still has responsibilities both as a shareholder in the Formula One business and regulator of the sport.
"FIA has recently received a 1% shareholding in the F1 business worth an estimated $120 million. This means that you still have an interest in the commercial issues affecting the championship and arguably a responsibility to take some action on the issue.
"The European Commission estimates that 25% of all road deaths in the European Union are alcohol related and there is growing evidence of the negative role of alcohol sponsorship of sport and its impact on young people. Even the terms of voluntary marketing codes are not being respected and alcohol companies are using sponsorship and social media to promote their brands in ways that fail to adequately warn of the dangers of drink-driving and which even promote risky driving. A recent example is the Johnny Walker promotion in the United Kingdom of a 'driving master class' with a Formula One driver. I hope you agree with me that this kind of promotion is wholly inappropriate.
"In these circumstances the FIA should surely adopt a strong policy commitment to halt alcohol sponsorship in motor sport. In response to the similar issue of tobacco sponsorship the FIA previously issued a recommendation in support of a ban and endorsed the WHO's Framework Convention on Tobacco Control. The FIA could issue a similar recommendation supporting the call for a ban on alcohol sponsorship.
"It is very welcome that the FIA supports the efforts of both the European Union and the United Nations to reduce road traffic deaths and serious injuries. But your efforts in this regard will lack credibility if the FIA fails to take appropriate action to discourage drink-driving which as you know remains a major cause of road fatalities worldwide. I would, therefore, encourage you and the FIA membership to take a stand and demonstrate moral leadership on this issue."
Clearly, a case of, to be continued...