Action Sought Against Tobacco, Liquor Firms

Source from:  thehindu.com Aarti Dhar  02/25/2008

Union Health and Family Welfare Minister Anbumani Ramadoss has asked the Information and Broadcasting Ministry to take action against tobacco and liquor companies indulging in "surrogate" advertising in print, electronic and outdoor media. In a letter to Union Information and Broadcasting Minister, Priyaranjan Dasmunsi, Dr. Ramadoss said some companies were using surrogate methods of advertising which needed to be stopped. These products have exactly the same brand name and logo which had earlier been there in the liquor ads, the letter said. "The companies are thus trying to bypass the advertisement ban on liquor products already in place," the letter said. These forms of advertisements were violative of the statutory provisions and defeated the very purpose of the ban. "This is in breach of the government banning ads of cigarettes and other tobacco products as well as wine, alcohol and other intoxicants considering the ill-effects of these products," it said. "But these companies have found alternative ways. Surrogate ads are being shown in the print, electronic and outdoor media," the letter said, adding that a similar trend was being followed by some companies making cigarettes, pan masala and gutka. The Ministry has banned certain advertisements and issued notices to the channels asking them to cite the reason for carrying surrogate liquor advertisements. Enditem