- BCCI: The Health Ministry may ask BCCI to ban advertisements of ‘tobacco’ and ‘gutkha’. Advertisements shown on the field and during the match may be banned.
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BCCI May Stop Tobacco Ads:
During international and IPL matches played in India, advertisements of ‘tobacco’ and ‘gutkha’ are often seen in the stadium. The board earns a lot from these advertisements. But a report has come out that now the advertisements of ‘tobacco’ and ‘gutkha’ shown in the stadium can be stopped. The Union Health Ministry is planning to take a big step regarding these advertisements.
A study by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and global health organisation Vital Strategies, published in the British Medical Journal in May, found 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.
According to a report by ‘Live Mint’, now the Union Health Ministry is planning to ask the BCCI to stop advertising smokeless tobac on the field. In this, more emphasis was given on stopping those advertisements which were promoted by a celebrity.
The report quoted a source on condition of anonymity as saying, “Cricket matches are very popular among the youth population. There are many instances where surrogate smokeless tobacco advertisements are being shown during cricket matches and are being endorsed by celebrities. This indirectly attracts the youth. The Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) of the Health Ministry may write to the BCCI urging them to stop showing tobacco advertisements in any form.”
The Uninon Health Minister is planning to ask BCCI & former cricketers to stop showing Tobacco, Surrogate, Gutka ads and within the cricket stadiums as well. (LiveMint). pic.twitter.com/jKi0JWoePo
— Tanuj Singh (@ImTanujSingh) July 15, 2024
The 2023 ODI World Cup was played in India
It is worth noting that the ODI World Cup is the biggest tournament in cricket. India alone hosted the ODI World Cup in 2023. In such big tournaments, the youth are more affected by the advertisements of tobaco or gutkha.
Cricket fans in India, rejoice! You might soon see a significant decline in tobacco and gutkha advertisements within stadiums. The health ministry is gearing up for a major step in this direction.
Direct advertisement of tobacco products in stadiums has been illegal for some time now. However, tobaco companies have often resorted to sneaky tactics through surrogate advertisements. These are disguised ads for pan masala or similar products with packaging and names that clearly hint at the actual tobacco connection.
A recent study revealed a concerning fact: a whopping 41.3% of all advertisements displayed during the 2023 World Cup matches were these very surrogate ads. The health ministry is rightly worried. Cricket matches, especially popular among youngsters, expose them to these indirect endorsements, potentially influencing them towards tobacco use.
Therefore, the ministry is likely to urge the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to put a complete stop to any kind of tobac-related advertising within stadiums. This move would be a welcome change, considering the severe health risks associated with tobacco and gutkha consumption.
Let’s hope the BCCI responds positively to this initiative. We might be witnessing a future where cricket stadiums become tobacco advertisement-free zones!
Great point! You’re absolutely right. Mega-events like the ODI World Cup, especially when hosted by a cricket-crazy nation like India, have a massive youth viewership. This makes them prime targets for those sneaky surrogate advertisements for tobacco products.
Imagine this: You’re a young cricket enthusiast, glued to the TV during a high-octane World Cup match. Between overs, a flashy ad pops up – a brand spanking new “paan masala” with a name that sounds suspiciously familiar. The colours and imagery cleverly mimic a popular tobacco brand you might have seen elsewhere.
This is exactly the kind of subtle manipulation the health ministry is trying to curb. These surrogate advertisements exploit the mega-event platform to bypass regulations and indirectly target a vulnerable audience – the youth.
The sheer volume of such ads during major tournaments like the 2023 World Cup, where a study found over 40% to be surrogate tobaco promotions, is alarming. Exposure to these disguised messages can plant a seed in young minds, potentially normalizing or even glamorizing tobacco use.
The health ministry’s potential move to urge the BCCI for a complete ban on any tobacco-related advertising within stadiums is a commendable step. Cricket is a sport deeply woven into India’s cultural fabric, and young fans are a significant part of its passionate following. Protecting them from the dangers of tobacco addiction is crucial.
Let’s hope the BCCI joins hands with the health ministry in this endeavor. Together, they can ensure that cricket stadiums become bastions of sporting excellence, free from the insidious influence of tobacco advertising, surrogate or otherwise. This will not only safeguard the health of young cricket fans but also send a powerful message – cricket is about competition, teamwork, and pushing your limits, not about succumbing to the harmful allure of tobaco products.
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