{
  "id": 8062488,
  "title": "Let’s Not Blame Celebrities For Surrogate Advertising",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/17/lets-not-blame-celebrities-for-surrogate-advertising",
  "topic": "business",
  "section": "Business",
  "published": "2026-09-17T16:19:47.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Free Press Journal",
    "slug": "free-press-journal",
    "url": "https://www.freepressjournal.in/analysis/lets-not-blame-celebrities-for-surrogate-advertising"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The recent controversy surrounding a fine imposed on celebrities for endorsing a surrogate tobacco product highlights a debate on policy inconsistency. The advertisement features mouth fresheners, which are considered surrogates for paan masala, a product that constitutes 1.2% of the consumer price index. The company and advertising firm are not at fault since they are not dealing with banned products. However, the fine imposed on the celebrity raises questions about double standards, as advertisements for such products continue to run freely. The existence of these surrogate products for liquor and tobacco is a known issue, but their advertisements are permitted despite the health risks associated. This dualism is seen as hypocritical. Other countries have banned the sale or consumption of drugs, and advertising for them is not an issue. The major revenue for governments comes from alcohol and tobacco, which are major contributors to the government's income. The GST rates for cigarettes are high, but for bidis, they are lower, raising questions about the government's stance on these sin products. Tobacco farmers and workers face a dilemma as they cannot simply be banned, but the revenue generated from these products cannot be ignored. The government is caught in a policy dilemma, trying to find a balance between revenue generation and health concerns. The addiction to these products makes it difficult to reduce consumption, and raising taxes has limited impact. Health campaigns have been running, but their effectiveness is yet to be seen, as younger generations are increasingly drawn towards different forms of spirits. Another concern is the consumption of junk food, with states implementing rules to protect school children from these unhealthy products. The question remains as to how much government interference is necessary to protect people's choices without becoming a 'nanny state'. The issue of sin products and their impact on health and revenue is a complex one, and finding a solution to this policy dilemma remains a challenge.",
  "summary": "The recent controversy regarding the imposition of a fine on celebrities for endorsing a surrogate tobacco product opens the door for a debate on policy ambivalence. The present case refers to celebrities coming for an advertisement of mouth freshener, which is actually a surrogate for paan masala. The surrogate product has been permitted to be marketed. The same holds for paan masala, which,…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}