ASA Bans TikTok Vape Ads for ELFBAR and HQD

May.10.2023
ASA Bans TikTok Vape Ads for ELFBAR and HQD
ASA investigates Elfbar and HQD vape ads on TikTok, finding violation of advertising regulations featuring under 25 celebrities.

Recently, the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) in the UK conducted an investigation regarding two product promotion videos on TikTok related to ELFBAR and HQD.


An investigation by the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) has found that ELFBAR and HQD violated UK advertising rules by promoting unlicensed nicotine-containing e-cigarettes on TikTok with underage celebrities as the main characters (specifically in the case of HQD). ASA has reached out to content creators and TikTok, requesting the removal of these posts.


2FIRSTS learned from ELFBAR that the company responded to ASA via email on May 9th and took appropriate action promptly.


ELFBAR has announced that it stopped content and marketing for TikTok in the UK from July 2022. Since then, the company has followed its internal advertising guidelines and prohibited employees from engaging in non-compliant advertising and marketing activities. Upon receiving a preliminary notice from the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) in October 2022, ELFBAR immediately launched an internal review. The review found that the videos created by ELFBAR's outsourced marketing provider were inappropriate and did not comply with its content guidelines. Meanwhile, ELFBAR contacted the TikTok content creators and requested the post be deleted.


ELFBAR announced that it has improved its internal advertising content inspection and monitoring mechanisms to avoid similar issues from happening again.


According to a report from the Evening Standard, HQD stated that they have removed all related content concerning this matter until the investigation by the Advertising Standards Authority is concluded. They also mentioned that they will take measures to ensure that the product is not marketed to a young audience.


Reference list:


The UK's advertising watchdog, the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA), has prohibited the promotion of vape products through TikTok by Elf Bar and HQD Tech.


This document has been generated through artificial intelligence translation and is provided solely for the purposes of industry discourse and learning. Please note that the intellectual property rights of the content belong to the original media source or author. Owing to certain limitations in the translation process, there may be discrepancies between the translated text and the original content. We recommend referring to the original source for complete accuracy. In case of any inaccuracies, we invite you to reach out to us with corrections. If you believe any content has infringed upon your rights, please contact us immediately for its removal.

U.S. State of Delaware Advances Tobacco Tax Hike Bill, New Rates Could Take Effect in September
U.S. State of Delaware Advances Tobacco Tax Hike Bill, New Rates Could Take Effect in September
Lawmakers in the U.S. state of Delaware have introduced a bill proposing a $1.50 increase in the tax on each pack of cigarettes and raising the tax rate on other tobacco products from 30% to 45%. The measure aims to boost state revenue and curb tobacco use, particularly among youth.
Jun.10 by 2FIRSTS.ai
Singapore Survey: Over 30% of E-Cigarette Users Buy Through Encrypted Messaging Apps
Singapore Survey: Over 30% of E-Cigarette Users Buy Through Encrypted Messaging Apps
Over 36% of Singapore e-cigarette users buy through encrypted apps like Telegram, helping them evade the country’s 2018 vape ban. As Kpods with etomidate face new restrictions, users may grow more cautious.
Jul.30 by 2FIRSTS.ai
European Tobacco Tax Surge: Some Products See Increases of Up to 258%
European Tobacco Tax Surge: Some Products See Increases of Up to 258%
European tobacco taxes are set to rise sharply, with some products facing increases of up to 258%. Authorities are also considering including e-cigarettes in the tax framework to strengthen anti-smoking policies, aiming to generate an additional €15.1 billion (about $17.5 billion) in tax revenue.
Jun.16 by 2FIRSTS.ai
Singapore May Tighten E-Cigarette Rules as Surge Detected in Products Laced with Anesthetic Etomidate
Singapore May Tighten E-Cigarette Rules as Surge Detected in Products Laced with Anesthetic Etomidate
Singapore plans to tighten vaping laws after detecting 28 etomidate-laced e-cigarette cases in H1 2025—nearly triple 2024’s total. Despite the 2018 ban, S$41 million worth of products were seized from Jan 2024 to Mar 2025, and a UN report shows rising etomidate e-cigarette use across East and Southeast Asia.
Jul.15 by 2FIRSTS.ai
Swedish Study: Nicotine Pouches Boost Smoking Cessation Rates Among Women by 200%
Swedish Study: Nicotine Pouches Boost Smoking Cessation Rates Among Women by 200%
A recent Swedish study reveals that nicotine pouches are the most effective tool for women to quit smoking, outperforming e-cigarettes and nicotine gum. Since their introduction in 2016, the smoking rate among Swedish women has dropped by 49%, helping the country move closer to becoming the world’s first “smoke-free nation.”
Jun.26 by 2FIRSTS.ai
Celebrating a Decade: Vapouround Global Awards Held in Dubai, 2Firsts Invited for On-Site Coverage
Celebrating a Decade: Vapouround Global Awards Held in Dubai, 2Firsts Invited for On-Site Coverage
The Vapouround 10th Anniversary Global Awards Ceremony was grandly held in Dubai, bringing together brand representatives, industry experts, and opinion leaders from around the world. Multiple major awards were announced on-site to celebrate a decade of industry achievements. 2Firsts was invited to attend and provide on-site coverage.
Jun.19 by 2FIRSTS.ai