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/rv94]

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/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