UK Major Supermarkets Told to Stop Heated Tobacco Advertising
According to the BBC, the UK government has contacted the country’s two largest supermarket chains, Sainsbury’s and Morrisons, asking them to stop promoting heated tobacco products, saying such products are illegal. In February, reports said both supermar
According to the BBC, the UK government has contacted two of the country’s largest supermarket chains, Sainsbury's and Morrisons, telling them to stop promoting heated tobacco products and stating that such products are illegal. In February this year, reports said both supermarkets had displayed posters and video screens showing a device that “heats tobacco with an electric current to produce nicotine-containing vapor.” At the time, both supermarkets said they believed the advertisements were legal.
Since 2002, the law has defined tobacco products as items intended to be “smoked, sniffed, sucked or chewed.” Supporters of heated tobacco products point out that these products do not produce smoke, while Philip Morris International said it believes the Health Department’s interpretation of the law is incorrect and added that since launching its heated tobacco product IQOS in 2016, the company has “complied with all applicable laws and regulations.”
The government has now written to the supermarkets, saying it believes the law does indeed apply to heated tobacco products.
A spokesperson for Morrisons said the company is reviewing the letter and will respond “in due course.” Sainsbury's said: “We remain in close contact with the government and industry partners, and we are planning for a transition period to ensure we also comply with the upcoming legislation.”
The dispute may ultimately need to be resolved through a court case; however, a bill currently at the House of Lords committee stage is expected to eventually ban all tobacco and e-cigarette advertising and sponsorship, which would make further legal action irrelevant.
