200 MPH Cigarette Ads: A Comparison of International Restrictions on Tobacco Sports Sponsorship

Since tobacco advertising was banned from United States airwaves in the early 1970s, tobacco companies have searched for alternate ways to bring their products to the attention of the American public. One of the most successful of these has been the sponsorship of sporting activities, particularly motorsports. This Note addresses tobacco company sponsorship of motorsports. Particularly, the Note discusses two bills that have been introduced in the United States Congress and the constitutionality of a complete ban on tobacco company sports sponsorship. The Note then examines the approaches used in Canada, Great Britain, and Australia. The author discusses the possible effects on motorsports of a complete ban on tobacco company sponsorship and the possible alternatives. Finally, the Note recommends the approach the United States should adopt