Sir, - In the light of Ken Doherty's superlative win to become world snooker champion, it is worth pausing and reflecting on the comments made by the Managing Director of Benson & Hedges after this year's Irish Masters Snooker Competition, when he said that he feared that it would not be held three years from now. The reason is not because Benson & Hedges have not been a superb sponsor, that Goff's does not provide a great venue or that the event does not attract top competition and extensive broadcasting and print coverage. The problem lies in restrictions in tobacco advertising and promotion.
While no one would disagree that tobacco consumption should be curtailed, it is an industry which contributes a sizeable amount of its promotional budget to sport. If sport is to lose this revenue through national and EU legislation, we must find a means of replacing this funding. Today's legislation against tobacco could be tomorrow's against alcohol - we only have to look at the problems of the 1998 World Cup in France and Budweiser to see that this is a strong possibility. Many sporting events, local and international, could be lost to us.
For some time, this Council has been suggesting to successive Ad ministrations that, while continuing to eliminate tobacco sponsorship, they should set up an alternative fund that would take up the baton which cigarette companies will be forced to set down. A dedicated tax of 5p per packet of cigarettes paid over to a national sports and health trust would, in current figures, yield an estimated £15 million per annum. Such funds would not only be used to support events, but the balance could be put towards many other beneficial sporting projects.
Revenue generation from tobacco sales has many ethical and political implications. However, the central exchequer already nets in the region of £470 million per annum from tobacco tax. While dedicated taxation is an instrument abhorred by the mandarins of the Department of Finance, if used in this case, it would have a tremendously positive and highly desirable impact for all of us. Yours, etc.,
Chief Executive
Dublin International Sports
Council,
Merrion Square,
Dublin 2.