[Intl-tobacco] PM/BAT/JTI promotions around F1 Grand Prix in MALAYSIA

Tue, 13 Apr 2004 19:37:03 -0400

From: Anna White <awhite@essential.org>

Dear Friends,

Last month, Mary Assunta alerted us to some of the
tobacco industry's upcoming promotional events around the Formula 1
Grand Prix in Malaysia (and the government's encouragement that children
attend the race itself).

Katy Pezzimenti, a U.S. college student currently doing tobacco control
internship in Malaysia, was able to attend several of the promotional
events and take lots of great photos. We encourage you to check them
out!

Please find below:
1) Formula 1: A vehicle to promote tobacco in Malaysia (Mary Assunta)
2) Photos of Philip Morris "Red Zone" F1 promotion (Zarihah Zain)
3) Photos of British American Tobacco & Philip Morris F1 promotions
(Katy Pezzimenti)

####

1) FORMULA 1: A VEHICLE TO PROMOTE TOBACCO IN MALAYSIA

In an email on March 14, 2004, Mary Assunta (Malaysia)
wrote:

Kuala Lumpur will be hosting Round 2 of the F1 between 19-21 March.
There are two extra reasons why this event is even more vile than it
already is:

1.  Special emphasis is given to attract school children and college
students to attend the race. An entire stand, Hillstand G, at the Sepang
International Circuit will be exclusively reserved for them and entry on
the practice days, 19 and 20 March, will be free. On the actual race
day, 21 March, entrance is half price - US$13.00 (RM50.00) The Chairman
of the Sepang International Circuit, Datuk Mokhzani Mahathir, (son of
former Prime Minister), said =93With this incentive we hope to fill the
maximum capacity of 25,000 for Hillstand G.=94 A record total crowd of
120,000 is expected and the organizers want children and students to
make up 20% of that crowd. This event has received support from the
Prime Minister, who will attend the race and the KL Mayor is officiating
at a classic Vintage car show this weekend. Numerous other events will
be held around the F1 in Kuala Lumpur including =93World=92s hottest Street
Carnival=94, KL Night (searchlights beamed into the sky), street parties
and freebies and giveaways. F1 partners and sponsors are said to adopt
certain prominent streets in Kuala Lumpur and dress them in the
respective team colours to give the festive F1 atmosphere. Please see
photos. The Minister of Youth and Sports has called on all parties to
support this year=92s event and make it memorable while the Mayor of Kuala
Lumpur endorses the event as a tourism opportunity for the country. For
details see: http://www.malaysiangp.com.my

2.  BAT is organizing a street party while Philip Morris=92s party is
sheduled at the KL Towers. Barely a month ago, the government launched a
multimillion dollar media campaign to get Malaysian children to =93Say No=
=94
to smoking and now children are encouraged to attend and watch the F1
where Marlboro ads will be splashed, followed by parties sponsored by
BAT and Philip Morris and streets decorated in familiar colours.
Indirect advertising and sponsorship activities ended in Malaysia as of
1 January 2003. However tobacco sponsorship for F1 and soccer got
exemptions and it is business as usual on the ground.

Marlboro's Shuey received his trophy from the Prime Minister after
winnning the Malaysian leg of the Grand Prix Round Two at Sepang
yesterday. It was a significant day for Malaysia at another level.
Malaysians went to the polls to elect our new government. As for the
Prime Minister, after casting his vote in his constituency, dashing to
Sepang to grace the F1 and hand out the prizes to the winners was just
as important. This gives us a good indication of Malaysia's support and
endorsement for tobacco and F1 in the days to come.

Some photos of Japan Tobacco International's promo of F1 and Mild Seven
cigarettes in Penang.
http://www.essentialaction.org/tobacco/photos/my/f1zg.jpg
http://www.essentialaction.org/tobacco/photos/my/f1zh.jpg
http://www.essentialaction.org/tobacco/photos/my/f1zi.jpg

###

2) PHILIP MORRIS "RED ZONE" ADVERTISEMENTS

Philip Morris' advertising theme for the event was "Red Zone".  Here are
some related advertisements, courtesy Zarihah Zain (Ministry of Health,
Malaysia)

http://www.essentialaction.org/tobacco/photos/my/f1zd.jpg
http://www.essentialaction.org/tobacco/photos/my/f1ze.jpg
http://www.essentialaction.org/tobacco/photos/my/f1zf.jpg

###

3) BAT & PM PROMOTIONS AROUND F1 RACE IN MALAYSIA

Katy Pezzimenti (Reality Check - NY; junior, New York College in
Brockport) and Susan Loo of the Malaysia Health Promotion Foundation had
one wild and crazy weekend last month.  Here is a collection of photos
that Katy recently sent us...

The temp staff Dunhill hired for the event..we got to chatting and they
were actually really cool..just college kids sucked in by Big Tobacco to
make a quick buck...and be walking Dunhill adverts
http://www.essentialaction.org/tobacco/photos/my/f1.jpg

The 'entry' forms you had to fill out to get into the Dunhill
party...you could win one of three cars, but only after you answered
three questions about Dunhill, gave them all your personal information
and wrote a statement saying why "Dunhill are perfectionists in
tobacco"...trust me, I had some ideas for that one!!
http://www.essentialaction.org/tobacco/photos/my/f1a.jpg

Pre-Party, Dunhill Changkat Bukit Bitang Street Festival, 3/20/04
http://www.essentialaction.org/tobacco/photos/my/f1b.jpg

One of the THREE sportscars Dunhill was giving away at the
event....yeah, the 3.8 million was well spent...
http://www.essentialaction.org/tobacco/photos/my/f1c.jpg

The 'fleet' of Dunhill SUVs...free to the execs of course, courtesy of
British American Tobacco
http://www.essentialaction.org/tobacco/photos/my/f1d.jpg

Greeted by the Dunhill girls on arrival....
http://www.essentialaction.org/tobacco/photos/my/f1e.jpg

Performers at the Dunhill fest
http://www.essentialaction.org/tobacco/photos/my/f1f.jpg

Susan chatting up two of our Dunhill exec friends...
http://www.essentialaction.org/tobacco/photos/my/f1g.jpg

Beautiful Menara KL, or KL Tower, site of the Regenerate Red Zone Party,
sponsored by Marlboro, 3/20/04
http://www.essentialaction.org/tobacco/photos/my/f1h.jpg

The Entryway to the Regenerate Party, by night
http://www.essentialaction.org/tobacco/photos/my/f1i.jpg

Entering KL Tower
http://www.essentialaction.org/tobacco/photos/my/f1j.jpg

Hot wheels at the Regenerate Red Zone Marlboro party
http://www.essentialaction.org/tobacco/photos/my/f1k.jpg

Marlboro Speed Zone, Regenerate Red Zone Party, KL Tower..interactive
games and activities, accompanied by the Marlboro girls...
http://www.essentialaction.org/tobacco/photos/my/f1l.jpg

Speed Challenge with the Marlboro Girls
http://www.essentialaction.org/tobacco/photos/my/f1m.jpg

A blurry, but OK view of the festivities at KL Tower
http://www.essentialaction.org/tobacco/photos/my/f1n.jpg

Marlboro Girls a Plenty..selling limited edition racing package
Marlboros...
http://www.essentialaction.org/tobacco/photos/my/f1o.jpg

Susan, the Marlboro girl and the limited edition smokes
http://www.essentialaction.org/tobacco/photos/my/f1p.jpg

Mild Seven Cigarettes sponsored a racecar in the F1...and the tons of
adverts that came with it
http://www.essentialaction.org/tobacco/photos/my/f1q.jpg

Dunhill ad in a local restaurant...'perfectionists in tobacco'..hah!
http://www.essentialaction.org/tobacco/photos/my/f1r.jpg

Entering Sepang International Circuit...
http://www.essentialaction.org/tobacco/photos/my/f1s.jpg

Welcoming the visitors from all over the world....
http://www.essentialaction.org/tobacco/photos/my/f1t.jpg

Souvenir stand...courtesy of Marlboro
http://www.essentialaction.org/tobacco/photos/my/f1u.jpg

Of course, plenty of cigarettes available...
http://www.essentialaction.org/tobacco/photos/my/f1v.jpg

Susan and the Marlboro girls..hey..this is getting to be a habit!
http://www.essentialaction.org/tobacco/photos/my/f1w.jpg

The Marlboro girls were at it again...
http://www.essentialaction.org/tobacco/photos/my/f1x.jpg

Kent promotional umbrella
http://www.essentialaction.org/tobacco/photos/my/f1y.jpg

West's hot rod
http://www.essentialaction.org/tobacco/photos/my/f1z.jpg

Susan and a young boy branded in Marlboro
http://www.essentialaction.org/tobacco/photos/my/f1za.jpg

Even the garbage cans! UGH! (Irony anyone?)
http://www.essentialaction.org/tobacco/photos/my/f1zb.jpg

Trackside advertising
http://www.essentialaction.org/tobacco/photos/my/f1zb.jpg

---------------------------------------
Global Partnerships for Tobacco Control
Essential Action
P.O. Box 19405
Washington, DC 20036
Tel: +1 202-387-8030
Fax: +1 202-234-5176
Email: tobacco@essential.org
http://www.essentialaction.org/tobacco