“If You Don’t Understand FDA Guidelines That Bans Celebrities From Alcoholic Beverages Advertisement, You Can Go To Court” – FDA

The Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) has said that celebrities who don’t understand the guidelines that ban well known persons from alcoholic beverages advertisement should sue FDA to challenge the order.

Speaking in an interview with Nana Romeo on Accra100.5FM’s Ayekoo Ayeeko show on Tuesday, the Chief Regulatory Officer, Food Industrial Support Service Department of the FDA, Mr Kofi Essel, said: “It has cut down the exposure of our youth to alcoholic beverages”.

When asked whether any celebrity can sue FDA on the issue, Mr Kofi Essel responded: “Oh you can. I mean FDA can sue and can be sued. The fact of the matter is that, FDA can sue and we can be sued. So you can go to court. Because FDA has a guideline that says that, well known persons cannot advertise alcoholic beverages and alcoholic beverages are also advertised within a certain time frame. And so if you don’t understand, you can go to court and challenge that order”.

He further explained: “As far as I’m concerned, as we speak today, I don’t think anybody has taken us to court on this matter. So people can exercise that right. Regulation is dynamic. Today we say this, tomorrow it can change. It depends on how we see things”.

The FDA in 2020, prohibited celebrities from advertising or endorsing alcoholic beverages.

Although some celebrities kicked against the move, the ban was maintained and it is still in force.

Story by: Reagan O.O.Osarfo (Nana Reagan)