ASA orders Relx and Louis Shaw to stop promoting e-cigarettes on Instagram

Market by The Drum

Jun.29.2022

The ASA concluded that it breached the Cap Code (Edition 12) 2.1, 2.3 and 22.12.

The UK’s Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) has directed Chinese e-cigarette brand Relx and Geordie Shore star Louis Shaw to stop promoting nicotine-containing e-cigarettes on Instagram.

In December 2021 an Instagram story on Shaw’s account showed a hand holding two boxes containing unlicensed e-cigarettes with the brand name RELX, with text stating: ‘@RELXUK’ and ‘GET YOUR OWN – RELAX WITH 15% OFF – LOUISXMAS15.’ This 15% discount code for the product was considered promotional by the ASA.

ASA orders Relx and Louis Shaw to stop promoting e-cigarettes on Instagram — *ASA directs Relx and Louis Shaw to not promote e-cigarettes on Instagram in future*

The ad also featured text saying, ‘This product contains nicotine, which is a highly addictive substance.’

The ASA concluded that it breached the Cap Code (Edition 12) 2.1, 2.3 and 22.12.

The post was investigated on two grounds:

The complainant challenged whether the ad did not make clear its commercial intent

The ASA challenged whether the ad breached the code by promoting unlicensed, nicotine-containing e-cigarettes and their components on Instagram

Also read:

RELX Vapes Seized by Regulator Possibly due to Incomplete Docs

#E-cigarette #E-cigarettes and Tobacco #RELX Technology

China Tobacco Regulation Shift：Policy Updates and Market Impact

Glas, the FDA, and the Future of Flavored ENDS

Product | Dual-Chamber 20ml E-liquid and 35,000 Puffs: JNR ShishaSip 35K Goes on Sale Online in the Spanish and French Markets

E-cigarette brand JNR has recently launched its new pod-based device, the JNR ShishaSip 35K, on its official website. The product adopts a dual-chamber structure with two built-in 10ml prefilled pods, bringing total e-liquid capacity to 20ml. It is officially claimed to provide about 35,000 puffs and features a 1050mAh battery, a 0.6Ω mesh coil, a display screen, and adjustable airflow. The product is already on sale through online channels in France and Spain at a price of EUR 15.90.

Apr.10 by 2FIRSTS.ai

Japan to Raise Tobacco Taxes and Corporate Income Tax From April 1 to Help Fund Defense Spending

Japan will raise tobacco product taxes and corporate income tax from April 1 as part of a package of levies to help fund a five-year defense spending increase totaling JPY 43 trillion. Tobacco taxes will be raised in two stages, with the first increase taking effect on April 1 and the second in October, while personal income tax is planned to rise in January.

Mar.27 by 2FIRSTS.ai

FDA Says It Will Not Take Enforcement Action Against Zone Nicotine Pouches Until Lawsuit Is Resolved

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has told vape manufacturer Fontem US that it does not presently intend to take enforcement action against the company’s Zone nicotine pouches while litigation over the agency’s handling of the application remains unresolved.

Apr.07 by 2FIRSTS.ai

Korean Vape Retailers Warn of Possible Store Closures After New Tobacco Rules Take Effect

South Korea’s revised Tobacco Business Act will take effect on April 24, bringing synthetic nicotine liquid vapes into the legal definition of tobacco and subjecting both retailers and manufacturers to formal regulation.

Apr.13 by 2FIRSTS.ai

Can hookah go institutional? A hookah company seeking to go public makes its case with capital, technology and regulation

2Firsts explored whether hookah can evolve into a more mature and governable category by interviewing Dubai-based hookah company AIR. AIR argues that strong margins, OOKA’s closed-system model and the prospect of differentiated regulation could support that shift. The larger question is whether this is simply AIR’s capital-markets narrative, or an early sign that competition, regulation and category boundaries in hookah are beginning to change.

Apr.02

Louisiana lawmaker pushes bill to ban vape product sales within 300 feet of schools

A Louisiana lawmaker has introduced HB 302, which would prohibit businesses from selling vapor products within 300 feet of schools. The bill would measure the distance by a person walking on the sidewalk from the nearest point on school property to the nearest point of the business. It would also give the commissioner authority to modify how the distance is calculated, while maintaining the 300-foot limit.

Feb.26 by 2FIRSTS.ai