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Deceptive advertisements violating consumers rights
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Most deceptive advertisements of edible products including tea, are violating the consumers right to know exact information on advantages and disadvantages of the particular product. Like cigarette, tea is also injurious to health but not a single advertisement of any brand, informed the consumers about its harmful effects on human health, which is violation of advertisements law itself.
Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) Code of Conduct says goods or services advertised shall not suffer from any defects which are harmful to human health. Misleading claims about the goods shall not be made. Dr. Wasim Khawaja of Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) talking about harmful effects of tea, said it contains Tanine, a toxic element that disturbs the digestion process as the secretion of juices is affected by it. He said Tanine affects the water content in the body, as a result of which the skin becomes brittle and rough. Moreover, it contains caffeine, which is detrimental to health. It affects the nervous system and keeps a person awake at night and it can also raise blood pressure. Dr. Arif Azad, Executive Coordinator of The Network of Consumers Rights, sharing his experience, said electronic media has mushroomed over the past decade which has brought revenue for channels but also has led to irresponsible advertisements and added to number of issues.
Deceptive advertisement is bad for consumer as it violates fair competition in the market. It is not fair to restrict the consumers choice through dominant market position, he said. He said that use of advertisement as a tool to artificially create needs of consumers is a bad practice which should be stopped immediately.
Based on the United Nations Guidelines for Consumer Protection, 1985 (to which Pakistan is a signatory), the global umbrella body Consumers International articulated a set of eight internationally accepted consumer rights, that need to be actively protected and promoted.
These consumers rights include the right to basic needs, right to safety, right to be informed, right to choose, right to be heard, right of redress, right to consumer education, and right to a healthy environment. Dr. Wasim said excessive caffeine can also cause poor concentration, irritability and nervousness, stomach ulcers, excessive passing of urine.
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