Auto Amazon Links: No products found. Blocked by captcha.
The government has recently reached out to Sainsbury’s and Morrisons, requesting them to cease the “advertising and promoting” of heated tobacco products, citing that this is in violation of the law. This warning comes after reports from the BBC in February stating that these supermarkets had been showcasing posters and video screens promoting devices that produce a nicotine-containing vapor by heating tobacco with an electric current. Despite the supermarkets’ beliefs that the adverts were legal at the time, the government has taken a firm stance on the matter.
In a move that harks back to 2002 when the Labour government, under Tony Blair, implemented a law prohibiting tobacco advertising, the Department of Health and Social Care has clarified its stance on the matter. The law back then deemed a tobacco product as something intended to be “smoked, sniffed, sucked or chewed,” which Morrisons now argues does not encompass heated tobacco products due to their lack of smoke production. However, the government has stood firm, asserting that the law applies to these products as well.
As awareness of heated tobacco products has surged, particularly among young adults, advocacy group Action on Smoking and Health raises concerns about the rising appeal of these products among youth. While only a small percentage of survey respondents admitted to trying heated tobacco, the charity notes that this is alarming given the parallels to adult usage levels. Additionally, experts suggest that while heated tobacco may be less harmful than traditional cigarettes, it is not as effective as vaping in aiding smoking cessation.
The government’s proposed Tobacco and Vapes Bill aims to decisively ban all tobacco and vape advertising and sponsorship, pending passage through parliament. As the bill progresses, Hazel Cheeseman of Action on Smoking and Health emphasizes the necessity of speedy implementation to prevent further exposure of children to tobacco marketing. The devolved administrations in Northern Ireland, Wales, and Scotland also express support for the ban on heated tobacco advertising, with major retailers like Asda and Tesco affirming their rejection of tobacco advertising as well
Read the full article from The BBC here: Read More
Auto Amazon Links: No products found. Blocked by captcha.