“BCCI to Implement Ban on Tobacco Ads at Cricket Stadiums: Report”
BCCI to Enforce Ban on Tobacco Ads at Cricket Venues Following Union Health Ministry Directive
The Union Health Ministry is set to instruct the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to remove advertisements for smokeless tobacco products from cricket stadiums across the country. This decision comes as part of a broader effort to reduce tobacco use among young people, as cricket matches are widely popular among this demographic.
A report by Live Mint highlighted that several tobacco products, endorsed by former cricketers and Bollywood celebrities, are frequently advertised on hoardings at cricket venues. These surrogate advertisements for tobacco products are a significant concern for the health ministry, as they are seen to indirectly target the youth.
An official from the health ministry explained, “Cricket matches are popular among the young population. There have been multiple instances where surrogate smokeless tobacco ads are displayed during cricket matches and celebrity endorsements are happening. This tends to indirectly attract the youth. The health ministry’s DGHS may communicate to the BCCI, urging them to stop showing tobacco-related ads in any form.”
India has made significant strides in tackling the use of smokeless tobacco products, but the official stressed that more needs to be done. The ban on these advertisements is expected to be a crucial step in this direction.
Under Section 5 of the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act (COTPA) and the Cable Television Network Rules, the broadcast of such advertisements is prohibited. This includes direct and indirect advertising of tobacco products in films, television, and OTT platforms.
Dr. S K Arora, former head of the Delhi State Tobacco Control Cell, emphasized the need to curb these advertisements. “These advertisements are actually well-known tobacco/gutka brands, 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 issued many show-cause notices to Bollywood and cricket stars when the pan masala advertisements were rampant. These campaigns were effectively stopped in several cases, but now they mostly campaign tobacco in the name of flavored elaichi.”
The move by the Union Health Ministry to urge the BCCI to stop displaying tobacco-related ads is seen as a necessary measure to protect young fans from the influence of tobacco advertising. By eliminating these ads from cricket venues, the ministry aims to reduce the appeal of tobacco products among the youth and promote a healthier environment in sports.
