FIA president Jean Todt does not believe that alcohol sponsorship in Formula 1 is a problem, but wants alcohol companies playing a much more active role in pushing the ‘Do not drink and drive’ message.
In the wake of a mega-million dollar deal with Heineken the European Alcohol Policy Alliance wrote a letter to Todt requesting he clamp down on alcohol branding as F1 did with tobacco sponsorship a decade or so ago.
During the FIA Conference in Turin, Todt was asked if he felt frustrated by the commercial rights holder attracting alcohol brands to F1, he responded: “I would not talk about frustration. My frustration is maybe in a different way.
“I feel that alcohol companies have a civil obligation that they don’t do properly. They have a responsibility to inform better about the risk of drinking and driving.
“We must be realistic. Is anybody in a position to ban the sale of alcohol? No. We cannot. Those people, those alcohol producers have very strong social responsibility.”
“To be very honest, I don’t have a problem if they do advertise,” Todt said. “They advertise not only in motor racing. They advertise in soccer, UEFA, rugby – a lot of alcohol companies are advertising.
“But for me, they have a social obligation which they need to assess better to participate to discourage people to drive if they drink.”
“I’m very comfortable, it can only be good for the governing body,” Todt said.” “The governing body has not [got] enough power, influence to have the final say on the rules. It’s the way it is. It’s simple. It has more then when I was elected.”
Read the full story at GRAND PRIX 247
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