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Stars and cola wars

PHOTO: A. ROY CHOWDHURY

ADSPEAK Cola companies depend a lot on advertisements to sell their products

Not everything is thanda for soft drink companies in India at the moment. A second report by the NGO, Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), has reiterated that carbonated drinks contain more than the permissible levels of pesticide residue. CSE claims that the residue, which is toxic, could prove harmful to consumers' health in the long run. But as arguments fly between the NGO and manufacturers, the focus has again shifted to the celebrities who endorse soft drinks, and there are quite a number of them.

ANAND SANKAR asks if celebrities need to take a stand and not endorse these products as part of their responsibility to society.

On one hand it is not right to endorse a harmful product but on the other, we decide what product to buy. So if something is harmful, don't buy it.

Faustin
Student

This whole question is a very big argument. Everyone can have their opinion. But I say celebrities can continue to endorse the cola products for as long as they want.

Karthik
Mediaperson

It is OK that people endorse cola products. Anyway, it is a problem with the company and the Government which is not doing anything.

Jagdish
Chartered Accountant

I think it is a personal decision whether anyone wants to endorse a brand. I really don't care who endorses what product and why.

Amlan
Student

The people who endorse these brands should be the first ones taking a stance against them if they are found to be harmful. What they are doing is not right.

Shiva
Business Development Officer

There are lots of more ways to make money and there is no shortage of money for these people. So I don't think they should endorse harmful products.

Pijush
Business Development Officer

They should have a competent licensing authority. That should be the first step and if anything is going wrong, they should clamp down.

Sunil
Chartered Accountant

It is not good. People do endorsements because they are a reflection of something good. If a product is harmful to the public, they should not endorse it.

Ashok
Hotelier

I don't agree with people endorsing products that could prove harmful to consumers. You don't have to do things just for money.

Mansi
BPO employee

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