A poster near a liquor store in Madhya Pradesh has gone viral on social media, attracting widespread attention and criticism.
The poster featured an arrow pointing towards the liquor store and suggested that people can learn English by visiting the shop, stating “Din dahade English bolna seekhe (Learn to speak English fluently in broad daylight”).
It’s a common notion that individuals, particularly in India, tend to speak in English when under the influence of alcohol. The slogan at the liquor store capitalized on this idea, using it as a marketing strategy to attract more customers.
However, the unusual poster quickly became a topic of discussion and confusion among locals, especially young people and local students, who view it as a tasteless joke that associates education with alcohol consumption.
India Today reporters went to the liquor store to find out who placed the controversial and misleading advertisement. However, the employees maintained that they had no information and were unaware of who posted it.
A local college student, Siddharth Kumar, stated that these kinds of ads will also negatively affect students. He also added that a quick glance at the poster made it look like an advertisement for a spoken English coaching center, which was even more misleading. Along with other students, Siddharth demanded its removal and called for strict action against those responsible, wanting authorities to track them down.
District Collector Bhavya Mittal swiftly gave the excise department instructions to take down the ad and pursue legal action against its posterers in response to the outcry from the community, the report added.
