Tobacco advertising through French TV in 2005: Frequent illicit broadcasting; its impact on teenagers and young adults

Abstract

Background: Sports sponsorship is one of the tobacco industry's main strategies to recruit new smokers among teenagers and young adults. Methods: Monitoring Motor sports illicit broadcasting based on six channels in 2005; Dakar Rally (DR) and China Grand Prix impact evaluated with a one on one questionnaire administered on 12-24-year-old males and females (n = 805). Results: 75 000 TV tobacco sponsoring appearances (90 h) were observed, total value: €200.106; Mild Seven, Marlboro, West, Lucky Strike, Gauloises Blondes accounted for 92 appearances and 95 of euro values, with illegal broadcasting value worth €19.106. A high interest in DR (71) and Formula One (F1) (66) was observed among males (versus females; P < 0.001), increasing with age (P < 0.05). Levels of spontaneous and assisted recall of cigarette brands were high among individuals interested in DR and F1, with better recall of brand names (versus non interested; P < 0.01); all individuals made correct associations between tobacco brands and car colors (P < 0.01). A non-significant higher percentage of daily smokers was observed among respondents interested in DR (34 versus 21; P < 0.01) and F1 (30 versus 24; P = 0.10). Conclusion: This high level of indirect advertising for tobacco through motor sport sponsoring confirms the urgent need for a worldwide absolute ban on tobacco advertising in motor sports. © The Author 2009, Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of Faculty of Public Health. All rights reserved.