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ASA E-Cigarettes

VIP e-cigarette ad ‘glamorised’ smoking says ASA after 199 complaints

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By Natalie Mortimer, N/A

December 24, 2014 | 2 min read

E-cigarette brand VIP Electronic has been rapped by the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) after its latest campaign sparked 199 complaints that it “glamorised” smoking.

The industry watchdog has banned the advert

the complainants were bodies including Action on Smoking and Health, the British Medical Association (BMA), the Director of Public Health and UK Health Forum, who said the ad, which featured a woman using an e-cigarette and exhaling vapour, promoted tobacco products.

VIP Electronic Cigarettes (VIP) defended the ads and claimed a disclaimer shown during the creative made it clear that a non-tobacco-based product was being promoted.

The ASA said that while the product did not resemble a traditional tobacco cigarette, the ads consisted primarily of a close-up of a woman’s face whose eye make-up gave her a “glamorous look”.Coupled with an “intimate” shot of her exhaling, it ruled the ads had a sultry tone and indirectly promoted the use of tobacco products.

ASA E-Cigarettes

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