Mumbai: The Health Ministry of India has called on the Indian Premier League (IPL) Chairman, Arun Singh Dhumal, to ban all tobacco and alcohol advertising, including their surrogate promotions, during IPL matches, related events, and national TV broadcasts.
In a letter dated March 5, 2025, Atul Goel, Director General of Health Services, also urged the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to discourage sportspersons from endorsing tobacco or alcohol-related products, directly or indirectly, emphasizing cricket’s social responsibility in shaping public health behaviors.
Highlighting the alarming burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in India, Goel stated, India is experiencing a significant burden of non-communicable diseases, which account for more than 70% of deaths annually. “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.”
The letter also recommended removing the sale of tobacco and alcohol products at all IPL-affiliated events, reinforcing the government’s ongoing efforts to curb substance abuse.
The Health Ministry emphasized that IPL players are role models for millions, particularly the youth, making it imperative for India’s largest sports platform to align with public health initiatives. The letter highlighted that as cricket players are youth role models and the IPL is a major sports platform, they have a duty to promote public health and back government initiatives.
The Indian government has been stepping up its anti-tobacco initiatives, introducing draft regulations last year to mandate stricter anti-tobacco messaging on online curated content (OCC) platforms like Netflix and Amazon Prime Video. The proposed rules would require:
- Non-skippable anti-tobacco health spots (minimum 30 seconds) at the beginning and midway of any content featuring tobacco use.
As public health concerns mount, the IPL and BCCI now face increased pressure to comply with stricter advertising norms and ensure that sports remain a platform that promotes healthy lifestyles rather than harmful consumption habits.
