ASA Adjudication on Vape Nation Ltd

A television ad featured a group of adults discussing e-cigarettes, with one stating, “I used to smoke normal cigarettes but after I quit, I tried these.” The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) ruled that the ad violated the country’s Advertising Code as irresponsible because it encouraged non-smokers to begin using e-cigarettes. The ASA noted that the ad implied that the man who spoke had stopped smoking for a period of time and was therefore a non-smoker who had subsequently begun using the company’s e-cigarettes. The ASA ordered that the ad should not appear again in its current form. 

ASA Adjudication on Vape Nation Ltd, Complaint Ref: A14-284845 (2014).

  • United Kingdom
  • Dec 24, 2014
  • Advertising Standards Authority
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Parties

Plaintiff Unidentified complainants

Defendant Vape Nation

Legislation Cited

Committee of Advertising Practice Broadcast (BCAP) Code, Rule 33.1 and 33.8 (Electronic cigarettes)

Related Documents

Type of Litigation

Tobacco Control Topics

Substantive Issues

Type of Tobacco Product

"[O]ne of the first comments made was “I used to smoke normal cigarettes, but after I quit, I tried these”. We considered that, had it portrayed the man who had exchanged his normal cigarettes for e-cigarettes, the content of the ad would have been acceptable. However, we believed consumers were likely to understand that the man who spoke that line had stopped smoking for a period of time and was therefore a non-smoker who had subsequently taken up using KiK e-cigarettes. We considered that the man’s statement could encourage non-smokers to take up using e-cigarettes and we therefore concluded the ad was irresponsible."