Health Ministry plans to urge the BCCI to cease the airing of ads promoting tobacco

The Health Ministry's Directorate General of Health Services is set to request the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to cease the broadcast of surrogate advertisements promoting tobacco products.

Recognised as the wealthiest cricket board globally and a dominant force in the cricketing world, the BCCI holds significant influence owing to India's large cricketing market. Despite its prominence, the BCCI operates within specific guidelines and regulations. It appears that the Union Health Ministry aims to engage with the BCCI regarding the pervasive display of surrogate advertisements during international cricket matches in India.

While public figures endorse 'elaichi' mouth fresheners, these products are actually manufactured by tobacco companies, which raises concerns about their potential to appeal to young audiences and encourage tobacco use.

The Health Ministry is concerned that the popularity of cricket matches among youth provides a platform for the indirect promotion of smokeless tobacco through surrogate ads and celebrity endorsements. An official stated that the DGHS may communicate with the BCCI to address this issue and discourage the broadcast of tobacco-related ads.

A WHO survey titled the Global Adult Tobacco Survey (GATS) conducted in 2016-17 revealed that nearly 1.35 million deaths annually are linked to tobacco consumption. In light of these statistics, the Health Ministry plans to urge the BCCI to cease the airing of all surrogate ads promoting tobacco and request stadiums with such advertisements to remove them as well.