Director General of Health Services Atul Goel has formally requested IPL Chairman Arun Singh Dhumal to prohibit all tobacco and alcohol advertising during cricket matches, related events, and national TV broadcasts.
In his March 5 letter, also addressed to the BCCI, Goel called for sportspersons to be discouraged from endorsing these products, either directly or indirectly. He further recommended eliminating the sale of tobacco and alcohol products at all affiliated events.
Goel highlighted India’s substantial burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs), which account for over 70% of annual deaths. “Tobacco and alcohol use are key risk factors for NCDs. We rank second in tobacco-related deaths worldwide, with nearly 14 lakh annual deaths, while alcohol is the most common psychoactive substance used by Indians,” he noted.
The letter emphasized that cricket players serve as role models for youth, and the IPL, as India’s largest sports platform, has a social and moral obligation to promote public health and support government initiatives.
This request aligns with the government’s broader anti-tobacco campaign. Last year, the Centre introduced draft regulations requiring online curated content platforms to include non-skippable 30-second anti-tobacco health spots at the beginning and middle of content featuring tobacco use.
