To Prevent Surrogate Tobacco Ads by Sportspersons Government Asks BCCI To Take Steps
To prevent surrogate advertisements of tobacco and alcohol by sportspersons, the Union Health Ministry has urged the BCCI and the Sports Authority of India to take measures, saying they are role models for millions of youth not only in the country but across the world. On Thursday, in a letter to the Board of Control for Cricket in India President Roger Binny and DG of SAI Sandip Pradhan, Director General of Health Services Dr.AtulGoel said that sportspersons, especially cricketers, are role models for youngsters for promoting a healthy, active, and productive lifestyle.
Goel said, “The BCCI is entrusted with the objectives of laying down policies, roadmaps, and guidelines for promotion of the game of cricket (and its governance), keeping in mind the players and cricket fans of India. and it is disheartening to see surrogate advertisements of tobacco and/or alcohol-related products by some of the well-known cricketers and also famous actors during cricketing events such as the IPL."
“Taking a considerate view of the issue, the BCCI may take positive measures to prevent these surrogate advertisements of tobacco and/or alcohol-related products by sportspersons,” he stated.
The DGHS suggested measures such as signing an anti-tobacco ‘Declaration of Interest’ form, not promoting or advertising in stadiums or events hosted or partnered by BCCI, and issuing directive(s) to sportspersons under BCCI’s ambit to refrain from surrogate promotion, partnership, or advertisement of tobacco and related products.