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Ramadoss’ next: No alcohol ads at airports
After stubbing out tobacco advertisements, Health Minister Anbumani Ramadoss has trained his guns on alcohol advertising in duty-free shops, reports Sanchita Sharma.
After stubbing out tobacco advertisements, Health Minister Anbumani Ramadoss has trained his guns on alcohol advertising in duty-free shops. He has asked Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel to get liquor ads removed from airports, including duty-free shops.
Critics fear next could be a ban on serving alcohol on international flights and turning pubs into salad bars, but Ramadoss is unfazed.
“I have written to Shri Patel and I’m not asking for anything new... Alcohol advertising is already banned in the electronic and print media and I’m just asking the civil aviation ministry to enforce a similar ban at airports,” said Ramadoss, who shot off a letter to Patel on August 25.
The aviation ministry doesn’t seem eager to oblige. Though Ramadoss made his displeasure known over two months ago, the ads are still on display.
“I’ve now asked the health ministry to formally take up the matter with their civil aviation ministry counterparts. Along with junk food and smoking, alcohol is a leading cause of avoidable death and accidents. It is as unhealthy as tobacco use and we need similar restrictions,” said Ramadoss.
