UK: BAT distributes free e-cigarettes to minors
October 26, 2020
Par: communication@cnct.fr
Dernière mise à jour: October 26, 2020
Temps de lecture: 3 minutes
In the UK, Action for Smoking and Health (ASH) is alerting health authorities about a legal loophole that allows tobacco companies to distribute vaping products to minors for free.
In the UK, tobacco companies or independent vaping brands regularly distribute free vaping samples to adults using third party PR or event agencies operating in city centres, around train stations and at festivals. ASH said that teams working for Vype (BAT) had recently promoted the brand in Brighton, Bristol and Bath, where a 17-year-old girl was approached and offered a free sample, in exchange for her email address and without any attempt to establish her age and without information that the product contained nicotine.[1].
Following a consultation, it appears that it is not illegal to distribute free e-cigarettes to minors in the UK. This is because e-cigarettes are not covered by the rules of the Tobacco Advertising and Promotion Act in the country.[2] "prohibiting free distribution" because they are not considered a tobacco product. ASH considers that the regulations relating to e-cigarettes regarding the distribution of free products to minors are not sufficiently precise.
Deborah Arnott, director of ASH UK, denounces BAT's hypocrisy over these marketing tactics. It is indeed stated on the company's website “It is essential that tobacco or nicotine products are not marketed to young people. Given the nature of our products, we take seriously our commitment to market them responsibly and only to adults.”[3]. A similar reminder on Vype's webpage mentions: “...Vype e-cigarettes cannot be used by persons under the age of 18…”[4]According to ASH, this is a new illustration of the practices of the tobacco industry, which presents itself as a responsible player, respecting the law, but which in fact goes against everything that is done to combat addiction among young people.
ASH has written to the Minister of Health to alert him to this situation and calls on him to fill this legal void in the regulation of electronic cigarettes.
Tags: Marketing, BAT, Vype, Vaping, UK
[1] Jamie Doward, Legal loophole allows children to get free vape samples, The Guardian, October 25, 2020, accessed October 26, 2020 [2] The Tobacco Advertising and Promotion Act 2002, section 22(5), as originally enacted by the Office of Public Sector Information. [3] Youth Access Prevention, British American Tobacco website, accessed October 26, 2020 [4] VYPE UK Home Page, accessed October 26, 2020 National Committee Against Smoking |
