India’s national carrier, Air India, has been reprimanded by the health ministry for advertising and selling e-cigarettes on-board its aircraft, according to a story in the Times of India.
In a letter written to the civil aviation ministry, the health ministry said Air India had been selling through its discount booklets “Air Bazaar” a tobacco-free e-cigarette using a picture of a model vaping.
The advertisement was said to be in contravention of the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products (prohibition of advertisement and regulation of trade and commerce, production, supply and distribution) Act, 2003.
The ministry’s letter claimed the advertisement had put the government in an embarrassing situation.
And it said it had been contrary to the government’s policy of using public transport for the display of health-promotion messages.