Sainsbury’s and Morrisons warned to cease heated tobacco ads
Sainsbury’s and Morrisons have received a letter from the government requesting that they cease the advertising and promotion of heated tobacco products, according to a report from the BBC.
This news comes after the supermarkets showed in-store advertisements for heated tobacco products, which violated advertising rules, in February.
The grocers hosted posters and video ads for devices that produce nicotine vapour through electric heating.
Morrisons displayed an ad depicting an iQos product at its cigarette counters, while Sainsbury’s placed an advertisement at its tobacco counter for an electric tobacco heater called Ploom.
A law passed in 2002 prohibits ads for tobacco products in the UK. However, the official definition of tobacco products is under debate.
The supermarkets claim that the products do not ‘’smoke’’, and that the law bans advertising of products that can be “smoked, sniffed, sucked or chewed”.
The government reinstated that the law applies to heated tobacco products and has requested that Sainsbury’s and Morrisons cease the advertisements.
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A Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) spokesperson told the BBC: “In May, we wrote to supermarkets reiterating that the Tobacco Advertising and Promotion Act 2002… applies to all tobacco products currently on the market and formally requested they stop advertising and promoting heated tobacco products in stores.
Sainsbury’s responded with plans to adhere to the upcoming legislation.
A Sainsbury’s spokesperson said to the BBC: “We remain in close contact with the government and industry partners and are planning our transition to ensure we also comply with planned incoming legislation.”
Meanwhile, a spokesperson for Morrisons said that the supermarket is reviewing the letter and is yet to respond.
Moving forward, the retailers await official clarification from the Tobacco and Vapes Bill, which is under discussion in parliament.
The new bill may completely prohibit the advertising of tobacco and e-cigarettes.
Hazel Cheeseman, the chief executive of Action on Smoking and Health, commented: “It is outrageous that certain supermarkets still do not seem to be prepared to comply with the law, even when told they are in breach.
“The longer this takes to resolve, the more children will be exposed to tobacco product marketing.”
Laws around tobacco in the UK are changing, with the government enforcing stricter measures for retailers by banning disposable vapes.
