[Intl-tobacco] Hungary Bans Cigarette Ads; Grand Prix May Be In Jeopardy

[Robert Weissman]

Hungary Bans Cigarette Ads; Grand Prix May Be In Jeopardy
by Dow Jones Newswires
Source: The Wall Street Journal Interactive Edition, Wednesday, 12/13/00

BUDAPEST (AP)--The future of Hungary's Formula One grand prix is in
jeopardy after the Hungarian parliament banned cigarette advertisements,
an executive of the race organizers said Wednesday.

On Tuesday, parliament voted to ban cigarette advertisements in the print
media starting July 1, and in all public places starting Jan. 1, 2002.

"The very name of the race is the Marlboro Hungarian Grand Prix," said
Ferenc Studnitzky, chief executive officer of Hungaroring Sports Co. "I
hope we can come to an agreement with the authorities and get an exemption
for the race, like Belgium and France did."

The law banning cigarette advertisements does allow the economics minister
to make an exception for a specified period in cases such as international
sporting events.

Studnitzky refused to say how much the cigarette manufacturer provides for
the race but "it is large enough to jeopardize the future of the race
being held in Hungary if we do not get such an exemption."

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