By Matthew Taylor Opposition Health Spokesman Kim Young has joined calls for sports venues to ban cigarette advertising.

Yesterday former Liberal Party leader Charles Jeffers slammed tobacco ads at Cup Match and said Bermuda could become the dumping ground for US cigarette manufacturers hit by stiff laws at home.

Mrs. Young said: "The Government should come out with clear guidelines -- you would think people in sport wouldn't want those adverts around their grounds.'' As well as banning the adverts at sports events Government should increase the propaganda war against tobacco said Mrs. Young.

She said: "We need to increase education to put out the message that cigarette smoking is bad for you, like they've had in the US.'' She called on sporting heroes such as footballer Shaun Goater and high jumper Clarance `Nicky' Saunders to take part in an ad campaign pointing out the dangers of drink, tobacco and drugs.

"People should still have the choice but education is necessary so they make an informed choice.

"Most athletes don't smoke so we want to reach those young people watching sports to recognise they should not do this if they want to be good athletes.'' Asked whether tobacco ads should be banned at sporting venues Health Minister Nelson Bascome said he was waiting for the findings of a National Drug Commission probe into legal drugs such as tobacco and alcohol.

He added: "This is the first time it has come up since I've been a minister.

"Until I get a clear direction where the NDC wants to go with it I won't pre-empt it.

"In terms of tobacco in Bermuda the debate in the US has seen individuals taking on big tobacco companies and lobby groups.'' He said individuals could try the same thing here.

He added: "Legislation doesn't solve everything, sometimes people's behaviour changes.

"If you look at the attitude to smoking in companies compared to a decade ago we've had a great change in behaviour, people just don't normally smoke in companies.

"Within the last decade we've had a number of changes in the policy on smoking.'' Kim Young SPORTS SP