Mr Padraig Flynn, European Commission social affairs minister, has called on the countries of the EU to ban tobacco advertisements from television and sporting events

Sports enthusiasts and the automobile industry are opposed to losing the US$ 250 million in sponsorship funds that the tobacco industry pays to Formula 1 racing teams. Mr Ludger W. Staby, chairman of the board of Reemtsma Cigarettenfabriken, commented that a sponsorship ban would bring an end to the racing circuit altogether. Reemtsma is sponsoring the Mclaren/Mercedes team and promoting its flagship brand West. Philip Morris sponsors the German Formula 1 superstar Michael Schumacher.