United Kingdom: BAT distributes free electronic cigarettes to minors
October 26, 2020
Par: communication@cnct.fr
Dernière mise à jour: October 26, 2020
Temps de lecture: 3 minutes
The UK, Action for Smoking and Health (ASH) alerts health authorities about a legal loophole allowing tobacco companies to distribute vaping products free of charge to minors.
In the United Kingdom, tobacco companies or independent vaping brands regularly distribute free vaping samples to adults using third-party communications or events agencies operating in city centers, near train stations and in public areas. festivals. ASH said 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 his email address and without any attempt to establish his 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. Indeed, electronic cigarettes are not covered by the rules of the law on tobacco advertising and promotion in the country.[2] “prohibiting free distribution” because they are not considered a tobacco product. ASH considers that the regulations relating to electronic cigarettes with regard to the distribution of free products to minors are not sufficiently precise.
Déborah Arnott, director of ASH UK, denounces BAT's hypocrisy on these marketing tactics. It is in fact indicated 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 the Vype web page mentions: “...Vype electronic 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 actor, respecting the law, but which in fact goes against everything that is done to fight against 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 gap in the regulations on electronic cigarettes.
Keywords: Marketing, BAT, Vype, Vaping, United Kingdom
[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 promulgated by the Office of Public Sector Information.[3] Youth Access Prevention, British American Tobacco website, accessed October 26, 2020[4] VYPE UK Homepage, accessed October 26, 2020National Committee Against Smoking |
