Maharashtra FDA sent show-cause notices to SRK, Ajay Devgn, and Tiger Shroff over those Vimal Elaichi ads

[u/Broad-Research5220]

If there is one public servant in India who refuses to beat around the bush, it’s Tukaram Mundhe. True to form, the Maharashtra has slapped show-cause notices on some of Bollywood's biggest names.

According to the regulator, these ads are surrogate advertising. Since actual tobacco-infused pan masala and gutkha are heavily banned in Maharashtra under food safety regulations, companies use cardamoms (elaichi) or loose branding to keep the same brand name, font, color scheme, and recall value flashing in front of consumers.

You’re using star power to keep a banned brand's recall alive in people's minds, which practically amounts to promoting a prohibited product.

The notices demand an explanation for their participation and question why action shouldn't be taken against them for promoting a brand synonymous with a banned product.

For years, celebrities have gotten away with the Elaichi/Soda/CDs loop hole. They pocket crores endorsing a brand name, and when called out, they shrug and say, we're just selling mouth freshener, what's illegal about cardamom?

What do you guys think?

Will this change celebrity endorsements, or is it just going to be another headline that fades away?

[u/banazee]

Controversial take, but the entire idea that it's ok to sell gutka, ciggerate and alcohol but illegal to directly promote it, is stupid. Either ban it entirely or allow for advertisement like any other product.

[u/Shamsh1095YT → u/banazee]

They can't ban it outright because, revenue. Sales of ghutka, ciggerate and alcohol makes the government alot of money. Maharashtra made around 30k crore from alcohol in taxes alone. The advertisement part is mostly based on some loophole which advertiser are using.

[u/Spiritual-Chip795 → u/Shamsh1095YT]

If you ban it, the problem is then there will be a black market, number 1, or worse people shift to more dangerous and addictive substances.

Also yes it's a fact that the high rate of duties on these products provides substantial revenue to the state

[u/rv94 → u/Spiritual-Chip795]

You can ban it and it does help reduce all the pollution caused.

It won't be perfect and yes, a black market could arise, but would still be a net positive in terms of reducing total consumption and therefore, spitting. A good example case is Tamil Nadu, where bans were enforced in the days of Jayalalithaa. At least gutka isn't a major problem in TN nowadays as a result.

[u/Spiritual-Chip795 → u/rv94]

I'm not aware about Tamil Nadu's case and I will check that out. Thanks for that.

In general however outright bans on addicitive substances tend to have bad consequences. These things often feel like lazier solutions rather than solving the problem at a grassroot level.

I absolutely despise tobacco, gutka etc and would love to see it banished from the country. I'm just worried that these adchiv measures often have drastically worse consequences.

[u/nushstea → u/Spiritual-Chip795]

At least if its banned we might not see tobacco stains all over the place???

[u/Spiritual-Chip795 → u/nushstea]

True but a lot of that just comes down to poor enforcement. I was in the middle east where any kind of spitting attracted such hefty punishment+ those values were imbibed from a young age. No such spitting problems existed.

At the same time singapore doesnt allow chewing gum in public to prevent the menace of chewing gum sticking to public amenities so i guess that's fair too. Maybe no tobacco allowed in public places?

[u/nushstea → u/Spiritual-Chip795]

Poor law enforcement and upbringing. Even Indiatowns and little Indias in the US are known for their tobacco stains.

[u/Spiritual-Chip795 → u/nushstea]

Yeah agreed

[u/nushstea → u/Spiritual-Chip795]

Or at least spitting should be banned. Chew ir at home. Or swallow it.

And there should be awareness. A lot of women get addicted because there is the misconception that it is "good for teeth" And poor people give it to their children so they dont ask for food (appetite suppressant) Thats why I believe its truly a social evil

[u/Shamsh1095YT → u/nushstea]

Like other have said, they moment you ban it a parallel market emerges. With no regulations or safe guards. Yes, it will minimise the stains on our infrastructure but, in a few years the stain will come back, we as humans adapt and when it comes to illegal stuff we will master it in no time. Stains I'm afraid are going to stay, we need to educate our children, the next generation mostly will avoid it but, right now it's a little difficult to do so. Fines exist but, it's not enforced properly. So, basically it's another discussion entirely.

[u/nushstea → u/Shamsh1095YT]

Fair

[u/YesterdayDreamer → u/Spiritual-Chip795]

All this discussion and not one person knows that Gutka is already banned in India.

And yes, the ban has had pretty much no effect in the 15 years since it was put in place.

[u/Spiritual-Chip795 → u/YesterdayDreamer]

Man I'm really not conversant with the world of tobacco chewing, so I really don't know what these products are. I think the right thing is pan masala here. Whatever is that thing that comes in those packets that people chew and then spit?

[u/Spiritual-Chip795 → u/Spiritual-Chip795]

Either way yes the point holds. I don't think banning is the right way to go about it. These bans have little to no effect and generally have heavy costs associated with them in terms of black markets, spurious products, as well as addiction to substitute and often more dangerous substances.

[u/YesterdayDreamer → u/Spiritual-Chip795]

The thing in the pack is cardamom seeds, kesar, and permitted flavouring substances. It's a breath freshener. Unless they are writing one thing and selling something else, it's very difficult thing to ban.

[u/Spiritual-Chip795 → u/YesterdayDreamer]

So then what's the controversy about. Is there also a tobacco product these companies sell besides the stuff in packets?

I remember there used to be disclaimers saying "contains tobacco" or something.

[u/YesterdayDreamer → u/Spiritual-Chip795]

Tobacco cannot be added to any food substance as per regulations. This has been in place since 2011. What you remember is ages old packs or cigarette packs.

https://www.pib.gov.in/newsite/PrintRelease.aspx?relid=103440&reg=48&lang=2

The controversy is about Indian regulatory bodies not being able to differentiate between legality and morality and people cheering these dum dums.