After surrogate advertisements on tobacco and alcohol, Health Minister Anbumani Ramadoss has shifted his attention to the Indian Premier League (IPL), accusing it of displaying ads promoting liquor brands.

Ramadoss said he would discuss the matter with the I and B Ministry soon. “It is unfortunate that things like these are happening out there. We will take up this issue with the Information and Broadcasting Ministry,” said the Health Minister while releasing the alcohol atlas of India by the Indian Alcohol Policy Alliance.

The minister also announced that a national policy on alcohol would be formulated to check this growing menace.

“This atlas will go a long way in initiating policies at the national level. I’ll urge political leaders to come out with policies on alcohol. It’s a state-related issue. I would like them to give their inputs too, and the states would be free to adopt these,” he said.

Terming alcoholism a “grave” public health issue, he said, “We need to create more awareness. Unfortunately, states are following the ‘British policy’ which stands for bringing alcohol, tobacco and drugs. There has to be prohibition in all states as the Article 47 says so.”

The minister also targeted film actors for promoting alcohol. “Earlier, only villains were shown in such scenes but today even heroes take alcohol without much concern, unaware that it is affecting the young population,” he added. He urged the WHO to come forward to eradicate the evil of alcohol.

“I do not know what pressure the WHO is working under. Like the issue of tobacco that they took up, I would like them to do something on this matter too. At the last meeting with WHO experts in Geneva, we wanted an agenda on alcohol, but it was not accepted. We will propose to make October 2 a non-alcohol day and would like WHO to acknowledge it,” he said.