‘Misleading and irresponsible’ – UK ASA rules on ads for cigarette flavour additive

A new way to add flavours to conventional cigarettes has gained publicity after being criticised by the UK’s Advertising Standards Authority (ASA).

The ASA issued a ruling last week on Smokepops, a retailer selling crushable flavoured balls designed to be interested into the filter of a cigarette. It followed complaints about a paid-for Facebook advertisement featuring a video demonstration of how to insert the product into a cigarette filter as well as claims made on a post by the advertiser on its own Facebook page and the advertiser’s own website.