Health Ministry to ask BCCI to stop tobacco ads during cricket matches

The Union Health Ministry plans to request the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to cease displaying tobacco advertisements during cricket matches. Specifically, the focus is on stopping surrogate advertisements for smokeless tobacco, which are often endorsed by former cricketers and celebrities, from being shown in cricket stadiums.

According to reports, the Directorate General of Health Services, supported by the Health Ministry, will urge the cricketing body to halt the broadcast of these surrogate ads promoting tobacco. The initiative follows findings from a study conducted by Vital Strategies and the Indian Council of Medical Research, which revealed that 41.3% of surrogate advertisements for smokeless tobacco brands were aired during the last 17 matches of the Cricket World Cup in 2023.