The Government of India sought to create a mechanism to ban Ads on Tobacco usage. In doing so, it raised ethical concerns and arguments from two different sides, those in favor of and against it. For instance, Suhel Seth, CEO of Equus Advertisement, made a strong differing statement such as “The ban does not have teeth. It is typical Knee-jerk reaction by any Government to create some kind of popularity for itself.” Mr. Seth thought the Government was not serious enough to endorse Tobacco Ads prohibition, but instead that the Government was using it to gain acceptance. On the other hand, companies such as ITC Ltd voluntarily withdrew its ads from events, regardless “the legal position of the subject.” They were accessible to “a constructive dialogue” that would lead to the development of a suitable legislation. I suggest summarizing both the arguments of those who are in support of, as well as of those who are opposed to ban Tobacco Ads, and the conflicts of interest issues that pertain to the Government of India and lastly my own point of view of what I believe governments should do in regards to tobacco ads.
First, when it comes to the arguments in favor to ban tobacco advertising in India, from an international point of view, “countries like France, Finland, and Norway had already imposed similar bans.” As an obsticle, some advocates of the “free choice” opposed to the banning but other supporters voiced out that these states should have the right to protect their
Tobacco companies increasingly rely on their packaging to build brand loyalty and grab consumers. Limiting the right of private corporations to advertise and differentiate their perfectly legal products from those of their competitors only serves to punish tobacco companies and their customers (Kline 1). The government wants to have cigarette packages to contain disturbing images accompanied by stark warnings covering 75% of the packaging (Kline 1). The second viewpoint is about how regulating tobacco will cause more harm, and covering cigarette packages will make tobacco companies furious, and could cause trouble and go to court. If people do not
A controversy over tobacco has been the main interest of the Indian Government and Tobacco Industries. The value of profit and ethical concerns are the primary factors underlying the debate between two opposing parties.
In conclusion, the tobacco industry is very harmful to society’s health. Cigarettes are the only legal consumer products in the world that cause half of their long-term users to die prematurely. Putting a ban on advertisement was just a start to not advertise so the tobacco industry would not solicit children, but the tobacco industry has come up with different strategies to solicit adolescents even more. If a law was passed to ban tobacco completely, citizens of the United States would not have to worry about second hand smoke, reduces the chance of cancer, and health
Most kids will experience a tobacco product before walking across the graduation stage from their local high school. With stricter regulations we can eradicate the false hope of fitting in with society through the commercials that project groups of friends whom consume the product and pretend their life is excelling due to the usage of a product. False advertisement should be against the law, so, our youth will not be subjected to distorted information. Our country shouldn’t allow corporations to exaggerate about their products behind the colorful tempting packages. If we were given the right information then, we would be compelled to develop a personal opinion based on the product. Finally, allowing us to process the information these corporations give us and letting
The people that support the government plan on banning Tobacco Companies from advertising their product, believe state had the right to intervene in the overall interest of the citizens. They also cited the example of drugs like cocaine, which was, banned in the world over. Most of the people that support the ban believe that so far it as happened in some international countries like France, Finland and Norway, it is constitutional to ban the product from advertising.
A global hot topic that has been on debate for decades and does not appear to go silently into the night is the influence of tobacco advertising and its influence on the populous. Recently to join the discourse was the government of India versus the tobacco conglomerates. The Indian government hopes to follow suit of many other nations including: France, Finland, Norway, Canada and New Zealand who already imposed bans on cigarette advertising with successful results. The tobacco industry, however, holds their position that by placing a ban on advertising is controlling the opinion of the masses not allowing them to make their own decision of right and wrong. The government has the difficult task of weighing out the ethical issues of what causes more harm in the future, to allow tobacco advertisers to continue with business as usual or to out a halt on their advertising all together.
This essay is a case study analysis that uses the case Ban on Tobacco Ads and talks about the conflict of interests between tobacco producers and the Government of India.
On February 6, 2001 Government of India released shock news on the tobacco Industry when it announced that it would soon table a bill banning Tobacco Companies from advertising their products and sponsoring sports and cultural events. The reason for doing this is to discourage the company’s adolescents from overwhelming tobacco products and also arm the Government with powers to launch an anti-Tobacco Program.
Numerous countries around the world have passed legislation to ban the tobacco industry from advertising. These countries decided it was ethically in their best interest to establish these laws in attempts to curtail the youth from smoking, and to slow down the growing health crisis. Protecting the well-being of their citizens was their responsibility; that was the rationale that were explained to these citizens. Arguments have been made on each side of the spectrum if these bans are viable to the stated purpose. India is very popular for tobacco production abroad and with the Indian people. In 1987 100 million Indian citizens were consuming tobacco products (BMG 1990). By the year 1996 over eight million citizens were sickened
One of those triumphs was that they manage to ban the tobacco advertisements from countries as far as their constitutions allow it. (Ruskin & Schor, 2016) This is why although advertisements are everywhere, there are ways to fight it, and there is power in the people who want to stop it even though government is not cooperating with this. We can see that it is rather helpful for costumers to take matter into their own hands, because it can lead to a less ad filled society. Costumers want to strive to a less add filled society especially for the effect that they have on children, because for them it is harder to discern between the trustworthy and the fallacious advertisements.
Supporters of the ban on tobacco in India realize the major health complications that will arise from the use of tobacco. The World Health Organization estimated “over 3 million people died from tobacco related deaths in 1990,” (Ban on Tobacco Ads by the Government in India; http://www.icmrindia.org/free%20resources/casestudies/ban-tobacco-ads11.htm ). It is the government’s duty to protect the health and welfare of its citizens by banning advertising harmful products that are designed to appeal to the masses. Children have been primed at a young age to identify cartoonish tobacco related characters, such as the Joe Cool camel (Ban on Tobacco Ads by the Government in India; http://www.icmrindia.org/free%20resources/casestudies/ban-tobacco-ads11.htm). By banning tobacco in India, the economy will not be affected negatively, as consumers would purchase other items or products, and may produce additional jobs for the country (Ban on Tobacco Ads by the Government in India; http://www.icmrindia.org/free%20resources/casestudies/ban-tobacco-ads11.htm ). Advertising directly impacts the number of smokers. According to the Depart of Health (DOH), “Norway, Finland, Canada and New Zealand reported a drop in smokers due to the ban on advertising cigarettes,” (Ban on Tobacco Ads by the Government in India; Department of Health, Effect of tobacco advertising on tobacco consumption, London, 1992; http://www.icmrindia.org/free%20resources/casestudies/ban-tobacco-ads11.htm ). According
· Countries like Belgium and France declared that banning tobacco was not unconstitutional as the right to freedom of trade right was not being affected and at the same time the good health of its nationals was being persued. This same argument can be applied to the people of India and its tobacco firms as they are still allowed to offer their products in shops and other establishments. The advertising ban would not hinder their right to trade their products with the community.
Therefore, in the favor of welfare of Indian citizen, I stand for ban on tobacco advertising
ITC has a quite favorable impact of political factors in the FMCG and Hotel business. Indian budget of tax regulation for the tobacco is 55%, Central Board of excise and Customs, Government of India (2015) which makes the company to spend the most the profit in the excuse duty. Advertising in the mass media is not allowed where as it can be done in the point of sale with a certain restrictions. Government of India also imposes the packing and labeling on the tobacco products like health-warning labels is to be pictorial and text for safety of the consumers. The cigarettes company operates in India with intolerable political factors, ruling party often changes the regulations keeping in mind about the safety of people but affects the companies like ITC business majorly. Which is also shown with potential customers are reducing day by day because of the price, results in lower sales. Apart from the government’s pressure, NGO’s in India are against the tobacco consumption and which in turn makes the selling of tobacco to consumers becomes tougher for the company. Though all the huge pressure company still able to make 65% of sales in the country and almost it’s the monopoly brand for the people for the consumption of tobacco. Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India (November
Giving the health hazard that arises from tobacco, I am of the opinion that tobacco advertising be ban completely in Indian. Ethics is a system of moral principles governing the appropriate conduct of a person or a group. It is a way of being human and having a feeling of compassion, sympathy or regard for others the way we have for ourselves. There is this famous saying of Abraham Lincoln “When I do good, I feel good; when I do bad, I feel bad. That’s my religion.” Managers of tobacco companies cannot pretend they do not know that tobacco is dangerous for our health. Ethics is fundamental in any profession and is an integral part of any successful business today. If in our subconscious mind we are not comfortable it mean the consequences of our action are unethical: then we are doing bad business. . Albert Schweitzer says, “Ethics is the activity of man