ASA investigates VIP ecigs commercial

[Chegs]

I'm all for a mainstream advert for e-cigs,if innuendo was an issue half the adverts on TV would be banned.(Benny Hill made a living from it,so do thousands of others)Let the ignorant continue to scream "it glamorises smoking" as the ASA will view the advert & realise that there are no tobacco products used/mentioned.I think those posts above saying "not while we're facing an EU ban" are just maybe being a little to sensitive about the issue at hand,but as we're not the ASA & have no way to influence their decision we'll just have to suck it & see what happens.

 

[anthonyb]

I'm all for a mainstream advert for e-cigs,if innuendo was an issue half the adverts on TV would be banned.(Benny Hill made a living from it,so do thousands of others)Let the ignorant continue to scream "it glamorises smoking" as the ASA will view the advert & realise that there are no tobacco products used/mentioned.I think those posts above saying "not while we're facing an EU ban" are just maybe being a little to sensitive about the issue at hand,but as we're not the ASA & have no way to influence their decision we'll just have to suck it & see what happens.

I can't see any problem with it. As long as it goes in the right time slot, like the rest of the smutty adds late at night.

 

[leisureliquids]

I heavily dislike the advert (I saw it a few weeks ago). It uses all the old tricks from big tobacco many years ago and in a time where we want to be different and seem better we are not going to. It's all about the money and while it doesn't glamourise smoking it is still a dick move.

I think VIP are an absolutely great company, great customer service and great products, have always said this, but don't think they have done themselves any favours at all with this ad.

 

[Fleabag]

I'd rather just see an advert putting right that massive amount of misinformation being touted in the Mail et al. Offer some of the facts about safety, lack of harm to bystanders and effectiveness as a harm reduction choice for adults. That's what would help their market and educate the masses who think we're puffing out toxic fumes.

We really need the non-smokers out there to recognise the benefits that supporting us will have to society as a whole (but let's not mention the increased taxes they'll have to pay when the former smokers have stopped propping up the country with their tobacco duties)

 

[Doofry]

I think the ASA will not look at it as harmless vaping, i have a suspicion that someone there will be screaming 'ITS JUST LIKE SMOKING...KILL IT BEFORE WE ALL DIE!!!!'
Yes, there are millions who know what vaping is, but there are millions more who will think it IS smoking or too similar to be safe.
We have no mainstream news articles that put vaping in the light it should be, most of it villifies the use of ecigs, it is as if there is a blanket ban on any form of conversation about them, i know that a hell of a lot of us are tweeting and posting on Faceache and spreading the good word ( i know i am at least).
BUT....unless we get mainstream coverage we are going to have to struggle against the shite that the papers and big tobacco/pharma etc continue to spew out.

Just watching David Cameron in China proves to me, as well as countless others, that he IS NOT a leader, i doubt he could shout charge let alone take charge!
When we have people like him in power, they are only concerned about money and not welfare, he went to sri lanka and was told in no uncertain terms to 'wind his neck in' now in china he won't say boo to a goose, might also have something to do with the 100+ businessmen at his back!

I am trying very hard, not to look at this in glum despair, but we do need some backup from news or documentary to highlight the fact that ecigs (and us) can save lives and do good, and also show the bureaucrats that it is peoples welfare first and foremost and not money!

EDIT: sorry for the rant folks

 

[Chegs]

KMS has posted a link to the EU discussion that took place this morning,where the Lithuanian President has said "find a compromise before Dec (forgotten date) or drop Article 18 from the proposal" All we need do is find some way of getting the UK media to pick up on this story & we're off to a good start.

 

[leisureliquids]

Whilst I think that VIP could have done a better job with this advert, it must have been approved before being allowed to air. I have had radio ads running 3 times a day for the last week and I had to submit a written dialog to the Advertising Standards Authority for approval before it could be aired due to the word ecigarette. They must have had to go along the same lines so cant actually understand why an investigation has been launched.

 

[Colonelboom]

I'd rather just see an advert putting right that massive amount of misinformation being touted in the Mail et al. Offer some of the facts about safety, lack of harm to bystanders and effectiveness as a harm reduction choice for adults. That's what would help their market and educate the masses who think we're puffing out toxic fumes.

We really need the non-smokers out there to recognise the benefits that supporting us will have to society as a whole (but let's not mention the increased taxes they'll have to pay when the former smokers have stopped propping up the country with their tobacco duties)

This, entirely.

We do not need another clever company trying to 'sex up' an industry already under such heavy criticism and scrutiny. There is ZERO message in their advert about vaping whatsoever - no substance to it other than ' hey look at this, its sexy' which is plain wrong at this stage in the industries attempt to win over the public with education.

WE know it is different, WE know it is safer, WE know it is not harmful to others - but THEY - the uneducated or blinkered public who see it as smoking will gain nothing from an advert like that, they learn nothing, their opinion is changed in no way. It is just another paco rabanne advert IMO.

What amazes me though is how quick we are to repeat the mistakes of the incumbent tobacco industry with advertising. VIP may be a great company but from my perspective it just looks like they are trying to glam up a product for quick cash and status rather than educate and gain (potentially) more smokers who see the benefit and make the leap.

 

[steffijade]

Whilst some folk might find the ad a bit distasteful, it has at least brought more media coverage to vaping .. in a general sense.

There are some folk that seem to spend their entire lives sat on the edge of their seats, just waiting for something to come along that might offend them and ready to reach for the headed notepaper marked 'Mr Angry from Purley'.

I should know.. I have a similar attitude to politicians.

 

[saewulfe]

If it gets people vaping and off the stinkies they could show buffalo performing indecent acts on wildfowl for all I care. This world has become pc crazy with people getting offended about the most puerile things.

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