CHENNAI: About a hundred activists belonging to Pasumai Thayagam, a non-profit organisation affiliated to the Pattali Makkal Katchi, staged a protest against Indian cricket team captain, MS Dhoni, for appearing in an ad for an alcohol brand.
The protestors gathered outside the hotel where the Indian skipper was staying along with his Chennai Super Kings teammates, before the police arrested them and removed them from the spot. Earlier this week, former union health minister and former president of Pasumai Thayagam, Dr Anbumani Ramadoss, had written to the Indian skipper asking him to withdraw from endorsing alcohol brands.
“Cricket cannot and should not be used as a tool to force the habit of alcohol consumption amongst youngsters. While Sachin Tendulkar refused to campaign for alcohol brands even when he was given `26 crore, Dhoni has endorsed it for just Rs20 crore,” said Arul of Pasumai Thayagam.
“After winning the World Cup, MS Dhoni’s heroic image has grown multifold among youngsters. If he endorses alcohol, it will instigate more youngsters to take up the habit. According to WHO statistics, around 25 lakh people die every year on an average due to alcohol consumption-related problems. But today, we see a rising number in IPL stars endorsing alcohol brands,” Arul added.
In the letter to Dhoni, Anbumani Ramadoss had stated, “Being the hero for millions of youngsters after winning the World Cup, you have indulged in indirect advertising for alcoholic beverages that kill millions of people a year.” The Global Status Report on Alcohol — 2011 had mentioned India as one of the countries where the habit of drinking was increasing rapidly, the letter mentioned.
“WHO recognises alcoholism as a bigger threat to world health compared to HIV/AIDS. Alcohol is the cause for 60-odd diseases in humans, including cancer, heart ailments, and kidney problems,” claimed a press statement by Pasumai Thayagam.
“While advertising for alcohol is banned by the law of the land, several companies have been trying vociferously to promote their liquor brands through surrogate advertisements of non-existent products like music CDs and sodas,” Arul added.
