Regulation of tobacco and alcohol advertising

Despite the liberalization of economies in India and other nations, the market is hardly free of state controls. Rules and restrictions govern almost all industries and their associated processes, from manufacture to sale and distribution and even marketing.

Advertising is a relatively unregulated area. It relies heavily on voluntary censorship and is governed by relatively few guidelines. An obvious exception to this general rule is the advertising of alcohol, tobacco and related products. In fact, the level of regulation and restrictions on advertising of these products, which historically began with small prohibitions, has increased enormously, and in the case of tobacco now amounts to the effective banning of promotional activities. Any advertising of these products is tightly controlled and highly restricted.

The harmful health and social effects of alcohol and tobacco are well-known. What remains controversial is whether advertisements of these products cause an increase in the number of consumers, or of levels of alcohol and tobacco consumption among existing users.

Rahul Chaudhry was called to the bar in September 2002. He joined Lall Lahiri & Salhotra in January 2004 and became a partner just four years later. Along with the firm’s founding partners, Anuradha Salhotra and Amar Raj Lall, Chaudhry is regarded as one of the most prominent faces of IP management in India.