This assurance was given to Union Health Minister Anbumani Ramadoss by Information and Broadcasting Minister Priyaranjan Dasmunsi recently.

The Health Minister had recently written to the Information and Broadcasting Ministry seeking action against companies like Bagpiper soda, Mcdowells, Johny Walker soda and Kingfisher mineral waters saying they were using surrogate methods of advertising which needed to be stopped.

"Though the Information and Broadcasting Ministry has not given us any written reply, the Minister has verbally assured me that action would be taken against such companies," Ramadoss said.

The letter said that these products have exactly the same brand name and logo which had earlier been there in the liquor ads.

"The companies are thus trying to by-pass the advertisement ban on liquor products already in place," it said.