Analyzing India's Tobacco Advertising Ban: A Case Study

1168 Words3 Pages

Tobacco Advertising ban in India

Government involvement in personal decisions in life has frequently been a hot button topic. What role does the government have in personal decisions and at what point have they crossed the line of personal liberties? Here we will analyze a case study in India over the implications of government involvement in the advertising of tobacco.
In February 2001, India announced a bill that would ban Tobacco companies from advertising and sponsoring sporting events. This decision was immediately met with dissension. Many believed the government didn’t have moral grounds to make such a decision and that this action held no weight. But was this action even achievable? Would it even have the desired effect and was it even morally ethical?
Many in favor of the ban on advertising cited the implementation of similar legislation in other countries such as France, Finland, and Norway. Supporters claim that the government has an obligation to look after the overall welfare of its citizens such as they do with …show more content…

Opponents believe that adults have the right to make the decision to consume tobacco and are fully aware of the risks. The freedom to make our own choices is a fundamental component of a free society. When government creeps into our daily lives we are all at risk of losing our freedoms. Manufacturers of tobacco ascertain that if they are allowed to produce and sell tobacco then they should be able to advertise their product as well. After all, advertising is an effective means by which companies can help the consumer differentiate between their products. Opponents of the ban also cite a survey by the Indian Market Research Bureau. In this survey, none of the respondents listed advertising as the reason they started

Open Document