New Delhi: The Board of Control for Cricket in India could be asked by the Union health ministry to put an end to the practice of advertising smokeless tobacco products in stadiums.
In major tournaments like the Indian Premier League, hoardings are put up displaying advertisements of tobacco products, inclusive of gutkha that is made from pan masala and chewing tobacco.
Several smokeless tobacco advertisements, particularly surrogate ads, are widely endorsed by Bollywood stars and former criketers. One such surrogate ad is ‘elaichi’ mouth fresheners that is manufactured by tobacco product makers.
According to a study by global health organisation Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and Vital Strategies around 41.3% of the total number of surrogate ads of smokeless tobacco products were in display in the concluding 17 matches of the 2023 ODI World Cup, which was hosted by India.
Now the health ministry wing Directorate General of Health Services to stop the practice of displaying surrogate advertisements of tobacco companies.
“Cricket matches widely popular among young population. There have been multiple instances wherein surrogate smokeless tobacco ads are being displayed during cricket matches and celebrity endorsement happening,” an official told business publication Mint.
“This tends to indirectly attract the youths. The health ministry’s DGHS may communicate to the BCCI urging them to stop showing tobacco related ads in any form.”
Tobacco companies often label gutkha as pan masala to navigate ban on advertising its products while surrogate ads are prepared to promote gutkhas through the garb of pan masala.
“These advertisements are actually well-known tobacco/ gutka brands advertisements and to circumvent laws, they are being done in the name of Pan masala, Elaichi and other eatables.
“During my tenure as Delhi State Tobacco Control head, I had issued a lot of show cause notices to Bollywood and Hollywood stars and cricket stars when the Pan Masala advertisements were in rampant and were effectively stopped in several cases and now they mostly campaign tobaccos in the name of flavored Elachi,” Dr SK Arora, Senior Chest Specialist and former Tobacco Control Cell head of the Delhi government, told Mint.
The BCCI is yet to comment on the matter.
In major tournaments like the IPL, hoardings are put up displaying advertisements of tobacco products, inclusive of gutkha that is made from pan masala and chewing tobacco. Sports Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
