The Union Health Ministry is set to direct the BCCI to halt hoardings advertising smokeless tobacco at cricket venues, aiming to reduce youth exposure to tobacco products. Concerns have risen over surrogate advertisements featuring tobacco brands during matches, indirectly targeting young spectators. These ads, often endorsed by celebrities, skirt regulations by posing as ads for pan masala or mouth fresheners. The initiative aligns with existing laws prohibiting tobacco promotion in media and aims to curb tobacco-related health risks among India's youth, reflecting broader efforts to enforce stricter advertising regulations.
