Indian Health Ministry to request BCCI to stop promoting all tobacco and gutka ads in cricket stadiums

BCCI may have to tweak their advertisement policies regarding gutka and tobacco.

Indian Health Ministry to request BCCI to stop promoting all tobacco and gutka ads in cricket stadiums

Narendra Modi Stadium, image courtesy: X

As far the latest reports go, the Union Health Ministry is planning to intervene in the display of smokeless tobacco advertisements during India’s cricket matches or any kind of international tournament in the country. BCCI may find a request coming in shortly due to the rising health risks. One of the primary targets of this intervention are going to be surrogate ads by gutka manufacturers which are endorsed by Bollywood celebrities and international cricketers.

A study convened by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and Vital Strategies, which is a global health organization, stated that 41.3 percent of all surrogate ads of smokeless tobacco in 2023 were displayed during the last 17 matches of the cricket World Cup.

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Cricket matches widely popular among young population. There have been multiple instances wherein surrogate smokeless tobacco ads are being displayed during cricket matches and celebrity endorsement happening. This tends to indirectly attract the youths. The health ministry’s DGHS may communicate to the BCCI urging them to stop showing tobacco related ads in any form.
A government official reported on the condition of anonymity (via Live Mint)

Back in 2016-17, the Global Adult Tobacco Survey (GATS) which was held by the World Health Organization in collaboration with the Indian health ministry stated that tobacco consumption or even indirect intake of substances have led to a massive number of deaths in the country.

The rise of Indian cricket and the involvement of big money under the watch of BCCI

Cricket has been a religion in India and the game’s exponential rise in the last couple of decades has drawn the entire country to the sport. From the extravagant Indian Premier League to the country’s dominion in world cricket, the sport has seen an overwhelming shift in their entire attitude toward the game.

BCCI
IPL Champions, image courtesy: X

In the recent days, the amounts which were splurged on the IPL players grabbed the limelight for all the right reasons. Preceding that the 2023 World Cup which was held in India also saw the tournament transcending the ordinary by leaps and bounds, thanks to the deluge of financial support from the advertising juggernauts and the sponsors.

It goes without saying that the kind of money that these adverts bring in, is a bit too hard to overlook. But at the end of the day, sport being directly associated with fitness and particularly cricket in India does influence people. Owing to that the Indian health ministry have decided to take this call and how does BCCI respond, that will be an intriguing factor to watch.

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