Popular Ghanaian actress and television personality Joselyn Dumas has openly criticised the Food and Drugs Authority’s (FDA) long-standing guideline that bars celebrities from advertising alcoholic beverages.
Speaking on Keeping It Real, the actress argued that alcohol has become deeply intertwined with the entertainment industry, making the selective restriction on celebrity endorsements ineffective.
READ ALSO: Musician Michael Adangba Involved In Sc@ry Accident
According to her, if the FDA’s intention is truly to protect children, then the conversation should go beyond celebrities and address alcohol consumption as a whole.
“Alcohol is part of entertainment. So, if you’re going to ban us from endorsing alcoholic beverages, then ban alcoholic beverages as well,” she stated.
She further dismissed claims that celebrity influence directly encourages children to consume alcohol, insisting that parental responsibility plays a far bigger role than celebrity endorsements.
She stressed that blaming public figures for how children behave is an easy way out.
It should be noted Joselyn Dumas is not alone in her opposition to the FDA’s directive.
Over the years, several celebrities and stakeholders in the creative industry have questioned the fairness of the ban, arguing that it limits income opportunities for entertainers while failing to address the real causes of underage drinking.
The issue has even found its way to the courts. Back in 2022, musician Mike Darlington attempted to challenge the law by testing its limits, but the suit ultimately failed, reinforcing the FDA’s position.
The guideline, first introduced in 2015 and later upheld by Ghana’s Supreme Court, prohibits well-known personalities from featuring in alcohol advertisements under the Guidelines for the Advertisement of Regulated Products.
While some supporters believe it helps curb alcohol-related social problems, critics maintain that the policy unfairly targets celebrities without tackling the broader issue.
