A question which we may have asked in the past, but given the number of ads of pan masala and alcohol around the IPL, we thought we should ask our Wizard with Words the question. Here’s Dr Bhaskar Das in the April 29 edition of Das ka Dum. Read on…
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Q. Is it irresponsible of sports television to carry surrogates of alcohol and pan masala? After all, consumption of these products is hazardous to health?
A. From a moral point of view, it might appear inappropriate. From a realistic point of view, I feel individuals are intelligent enough to take a call about what is appropriate for them. Come to think of it, why surrogacy is resorted to for the proposed categories? Instead, if it is made fully illegal (with high punitive action) to promote the categories, then no one would dare to violate them. The other alternative is to fully legalise them and create high entry barrier for consumers to de-market their consumption. If the loopholes in the legal framework are kept to enable the business to sustain (it has economic reason too, I am sure), then businesses would resort to surrogate advertising. The issue of morality in such a situation needn’t be raised even.