DTVHINDI
The Union Health Ministry has recently announced that tobacco and gutkha advertisements will not be displayed in any stadium in India. Many cricket grounds hosting popular tournaments like IPL display tobacco advertisements, including those of gutkha-paan masala and chewing tobacco.
Obviously, these advertisements earn a lot of money for BCCI. But this is pushing the youth of the country on the wrong path. Bollywood stars forget that they are role models for Indian youth and they proudly promote gutkha and tobacco.
It is worth noting that cricket is celebrated like a festival in India and this game is very popular among the youth. There have been many cases in which smokeless tobacco advertisements have been shown during cricket matches and celebrity endorsements. This indirectly attracts the youth. Therefore, now there are reports that the DGHS of the Ministry of Health may write a letter to the BCCI and urge it to stop showing tobacco related advertisements.
“These advertisements are actually advertisements of famous tobacco/gutkha brands and are being sold in the name of pan masala, cardamom and other food items to circumvent the laws. Delhi State Tobacco Control had issued many show cause notices to Bollywood and cricket stars. The advertisements of pan masala were rampant and were effectively stopped in many cases. After this, now they mostly promote tobacco in the name of fragrant cardamom.”
41.3% of World Cup ads were for tobacco
A study by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and global health organisation Vital Strategies was published in the British Medical Journal in May. It reported that 41.3% of all surrogate advertising of smokeless tobacco (SLT) brands in 2023 were shown during the last 17 matches of the Cricket World Cup.
