Supreme Court adjourns celebrity alcohol endorsement case indefinitely
The Supreme Court has once again postponed its ruling on a significant case challenging the Food and Drugs Authority’s (FDA) prohibition of celebrity endorsement of alcoholic beverages.
This marks the third delay in reaching a decision on this landmark case.
In 2015, the FDA introduced a directive prohibiting celebrities from endorsing alcoholic beverages, citing concerns about the potential influence on minors and their consumption of alcohol.
In 2022, Mark Darlington Osae, manager of Hiplife artists Reggie ‘N’ Bollie and Skrewfaze, initiated legal proceedings at the Supreme Court to contest the FDA’s directive.
The plaintiff argues that the FDA’s directive is unconstitutional, as it infringes upon the right to non-discrimination guaranteed by Article 17 of the 1992 Constitution.
Originally scheduled for a verdict on May 8, the court had previously postponed the decision on April 10, 2024.
However, Mark Darlington Osae has announced that the Supreme Court has adjourned the case indefinitely, with no new date provided for a hearing.
In response to the delay, Osae expressed disappointment, stating, “Supreme Court Update: Unfortunately, the case against the FDA has been adjourned yet again! No new date given yet.” The adjournment prolongs the uncertainty surrounding the legality of the FDA’s directive and its implications for celebrity endorsements in the alcohol industry.
