Film scenes with drug consumption, trafficking to carry anti-drug warning label

NEW DELHI: Films depicting consumption or trafficking of drugs will now carry an anti-drug warning, the broadcast ministry notified on Wednesday.According to the guidelines amended under the Cinematograph Act, such movie scenes will carry the warning: "Illicit Narcotics Destroy Health and Guarantees Imprisonment. Say No to Drugs".The move follows a similar direction issued to OTT platforms by the ministry last month, asking them to prominently display the same warning during scenes showing the consumption or use of narcotic drugs. A similar advisory was also issued to private satellite television channels.The latest change marks a departure from the earlier film certification guidelines, under which the central board of film certification (CBFC) was required to ensure that scenes that could "encourage, justify or glamorise drug addiction" were not shown.