Sat, 01 Feb 2025

Top supermarkets running 'prohibited' tobacco ads

Trading Standards says adverts for heated tobacco products are banned, but some supermarkets disagree.

* Sainsbury's and Morrisons displaying adverts for heated tobacco products in their stores, despite Trading Standards saying it's against the law.
* Tobacco companies say laws banning tobacco advertising don't apply to heated tobacco devices, which heat tobacco rather than burn it like cigarettes.
* Heated tobacco is likely less harmful than cigarettes but more harmful than vapes and less effective at helping smokers quit.
* The 2002 law banned tobacco adverts in UK stores, but some supermarkets are now displaying ads for products like iQos and Ploom.
* Trading Standards Institute says the issue has never been tested in court and can't conclusively say running these ads is illegal.
* Health experts say there's limited evidence on the health effects of heated tobacco, with current findings suggesting it may be more harmful than e-cigarettes.
* Supermarkets claim they don't sell devices to children and only advertise to existing nicotine and tobacco users.
* Government says its forthcoming Tobacco and Vapes Bill will ban all advertising of nicotine and tobacco products, including vapes and nicotine pouches.
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