Health Ministry Urges BCCI, SAI to Curb Surrogate Ads for Tobacco and Alcohol
The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, through its Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), has advised the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and the Sports Authority of India (SAI) to prevent surrogate advertisements for tobacco and alcohol-related products. This recommendation comes amid growing public health concerns linked to tobacco use, with the Global Adult Tobacco Survey attributing nearly 13.5 lakh deaths annually to tobacco-related causes.
Health Ministry’s Letter to BCCI and SAI
In a letter addressed to BCCI president Roger Binny and SAI Director General Sandip Pradhan, Prof. (Dr.) Atul Goel, Director of Health Services, requested both organizations to sign an anti-tobacco Declaration of Interest form. He urged them to avoid promoting surrogate advertisements of tobacco or alcohol products at events hosted by the BCCI and SAI.
Role Models and Public Health
The BCCI is responsible for setting policies and guidelines for the promotion and governance of cricket in India, considering the interests of players and fans. Dr. Goel emphasized that sportspersons, especially cricketers, serve as role models, particularly for the youth, in promoting a healthy and active lifestyle. He expressed concern over surrogate advertisements of tobacco and alcohol products by well-known cricketers during events like the IPL.
Government’s Stance and Regulations
The Health Ministry’s stance aligns with existing regulations under the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act (COTPA). The letter highlights the need for directives to be issued to cricketers to refrain from surrogate promotion, partnership, or advertisement of tobacco-related products. Similar requests were made to the SAI DG.
Since the inception of the IPL in 2008, several leading alcohol and tobacco brands have partnered with franchises through surrogate advertising. For instance, United Spirits (USL), India’s leading liquor producer, owns the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) franchise in the IPL and the Women’s Premier League.
