TOBACCO CONTROL LAWS

ASA Ruling on British American Tobacco UK Ltd.

Following complaints by leading health organizations, the UK’s Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) ruled that British American Tobacco (BAT) can no longer use any public Instagram account to promote e-cigarettes in the UK. The ruling includes BAT’s use of influencer marketing to advertise e-cigarettes and orders BAT to remove unlawful e-cigarette advertising content currently on Instagram.

UK regulations clearly prohibit online advertising of e-cigarettes, but allow a manufacturer to provide factual product information such as the name, content and price of the product on its own websites. The ASA ruling has clarified that public social media accounts, like @govype run by BAT, are not analogous to a website, and therefore, neither factual nor promotional content for e-cigarettes is permitted.

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ASA Ruling on British American Tobacco UK Ltd., Internet (social networking) (2019).

  • United Kingdom
  • Dec 18, 2019
  • Advertising Standards Authority

Parties

Plaintiff

  • Action on Smoking and Health
  • Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids
  • Stopping Tobacco Organizations and Products

Defendant British American Tobacco UK Ltd

Legislation Cited

Tobacco and Related Products Regulations 2016 (TRPR)

Related Documents

None

Type of Litigation

Government Enforcement Action
Government, through its agencies and officials including prosecutors, may seek to enforce its health laws. For example, the government may revoke the license of a retailer that sells tobacco products to minors. These cases may also directly involve the tobacco industry, for example, a government might impound and destroy improperly labeled cigarette packs.

Tobacco Control Topics

Advertising, Promotion and Sponsorship
Measures restricting any form of direct or indirect tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship. (See FCTC Art. 13)

Substantive Issues

None

Type of Tobacco Product

E-cigarettes and other ENDS products
Electronic and/or battery-operated devices designed to deliver an inhaled dose of nicotine or other substances. Examples include electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes), electronic cigars, electronic cigarillos, electronic hookah, vaporizers, and vape pens. ENDS does not include any device or medication approved by the government as nicotine replacement therapy.
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