After smoking in films, Ramadoss takes a dig at IPL team

ROYAL CHALLENGE: Health Minister Anbumani Ramadoss said he will take up the matter with the I&B Ministry.

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New Delhi: Criticising the Indian Premier League’s (IPL) Bangalore team, Royal Challengers, for promoting surrogate advertising of alcohol products, Union Health Minister Anbumani Ramadoss on Tuesday said he would take up the matter with the Information and Broadcasting Ministry.

“This is surrogate advertisement. We are going to write against the team to the Information and Broadcasting Ministry,” Ramadoss said.

On Monday, the Supreme Court had dismissed a petition which alleged that Vijay Mallya, who owns the IPL Bangalore team, was promoting the liquor brand produced by his United Breweries Group through his team's name.

But Ramadoss alleged that Mallya was using the banner 'Royal Challengers' as a means to promote one of his liquor brands.

"We are in favour of banning all surrogate advertisements and those who violate it will face action," the minister was quoted by IANS on the sidelines of an anti-alcohol programme in the Capital.

The Health Ministry had earlier written to the I&B Minister seeking a ban on surrogate advertisements of tobacco and alcohol products following which an ordinance had been brought by the government banning such commercials.

Alcohol Atlas

Terming alcoholism as a "grave" public health issue, Ramadoss said the Government would soon come up with a national alcohol policy to check the growing menace.

Though alcohol is a state subject, the Government would come up with a National Policy in consultation with all the stakeholders and the states would be free to adopt it, he said on the sidelines of the release of the Alcohol Atlas of India.

The average age of alcohol consumption has gone down from 28 years to 19 years which is a serious problem, the minister said adding that all political parties should come together to form policies to fight this problem.

The government is also planning to go on a publicity overdrive to make people aware of the perils of drinking.

"At the WHO convention in May, we are planning to suggest making October 2 as the world anti-alcohol day," Ramadoss said.

He also asked filmmakers and other celebrities to desist from glorifying alcoholism onscreen.

"We need to emphasise the preventive part rather than fight after the damage has been done," he added.

(With agency inputs)