Rapper Edem has taken to his Twitter page to lambaste the Food and Drugs Board, over the ban of celebrities from advertising alcoholic beverages.
It would be recalled the FDA about five years ago, made it known that celebrities could not advertise alcoholic products. It explained that the ban is an adherence to a World Health Organization (WHO) policy and efforts to ensure that minors are protected from being lured into alcoholism.
This move by the FDA compelled Ghanaian alcoholic company, Adonko Bitters to take their business to Nigeria, where they signed celebrities such as Ini Edo, Jim Iyke, and a host of other famed celebrities as ambassadors of the product.
In the wake of this development, many celebrities have taken to social media to react.
Gbevu Nation’s boss Edem in his reaction argued that if celebrities had the power to influence people to take alcohol, it would be prudent to say that the same celebrities could influence them to drink responsibly.
“If personalities have the ability to influence people to drink. Don’t you also think they have the power to tell them to do it responsibly?” the rapper questioned
Edem last year described as “pointless” the decision to ban celebrities from advertising alcoholic products.
“Nothing is working in the entertainment field and the main problem is because the government has banned alcoholic beverage producers from sponsoring events and also stopped celebrities from endorsing alcoholic beverages which is so wrong.
“It is pointless to say that because we are celebrities, we should not endorse an alcoholic product. The companies have stated that the drink is for people above 18 years so how is the celebrity influencing underage people? They should kindly allow us to stay in business because the shows are not a lot,” he told Graphic Showbiz.
Afia Schwarzenegger also on her Instagram used very unprintable words to describe the action of the FDA.
If personalities have the ability to influence people to drink..Dont you also think they have the power to tell them to do it responsibly?
— Edem (@iamedem) February 20, 2020
Source: www.ghanaweb.com
