The Sun has a dig at vaping again

[Rickster]

How the fook is all that roleplay, unicorns are real fooking animals. I see one once lol

And to add....they are Scotland's national animal, they are fkin everywhere up here

 

[zouzounaki]

Because I don't think it's defendable.

Let's pretend you've just brought out a juice line with very child-like packaging, childish names, bright colours, ponies and unicorns all that stuff. This would be my accusation to you....

The packaging isn't an accident, you've chosen to go down this route in a meeting, you've all sat around and asked yourselves "how should we market and package this" and you've decided to take all the things associated with Children's sweets, toys, kids food packets, kids drinks, cartoon characters, and to make it look as harmless and fun as possible.

You claim that your product is an adult product, you claim that it should be seen as a serious harm reduction tool for smokers, you claim that you are not trying to get underage teenage non-smokers interested in your products, yet you choose to go down this route .... why is that Ms @Crewella ?

Is it not true that your company cannot grow or survive without attracting new vapers? ... and is it not true that the best time to hook people into becoming long term users of your product is to get them at a young age?

Is it not the case that you chose this packaging to appeal to young non-smokers that you hope to lure into a lifetime of nicotine addiction, are you any better than the tobacconists that you claim to be saving people from? Please explain to us why you chose this ridiculous childish packaging with ponies and unicorns on over a more adult theme that would surely suit your product better? Do you expect anyone to take you seriously?

EDIT: this is roleplay in case anyone doesn't get it.

Having heard all the evidence we find you, Ms @Crewella , guilty on all charges.

Your defence was not convincing. Your comparison between packaging aimed at infants and the passing whims of male fashion attire through the ages appeared to miss the point entirely and was utterly unconvincing, and you have deliberately tried to mislead us to your own detriment.

We preferred the evidence and reasoning of the honourable Mr @Simon G representing the prosecution.

We have no choice but to sentence you to prohibition from vaping flavoured eliquid. You will be permitted only plain, unflavoured nic shots vaped from a smoant campbell for a period not exceeding 50 years. I hope this case will serve as a deterrent to others considering taking your ill-advised course of action.

 

[zouzounaki]

And to add....they are Scotland's national animal, they are fkin everywhere up here

No, don’t bring that up again!

 

[speedfreek67]

Let's pretend you've just brought out a juice line with very child-like packaging, childish names, bright colours, ponies and unicorns all that stuff. This would be my accusation to you....

The packaging isn't an accident, you've chosen to go down this route in a meeting, you've all sat around and asked yourselves "how should we market and package this" and you've decided to take all the things associated with Children's sweets, toys, kids food packets, kids drinks, cartoon characters, and to make it look as harmless and fun as possible.

Yes, we did.

You claim that your product is an adult product, you claim that it should be seen as a serious harm reduction tool for smokers, you claim that you are not trying to get underage teenage non-smokers interested in your products, yet you choose to go down this route .... why is that?

Because, whilst the branding might be seen by some to appeal to the underaged, in law nobody is actually allowed to sell these products to anyone under the age of 18. The packaging has been shown to appeal to adults and children alike, but only adults can buy them.

Is it not true that your company cannot grow or survive without attracting new vapers? ... and is it not true that the best time to hook people into becoming long term users of your product is to get them at a young age?

Our product is aimed at people who are trying to give up smoking, and as such we are trying to appeal to as larger cross section of that demographic, who are able to legally purchase our product, as possible.

Is it not the case that you chose this packaging to appeal to young non-smokers that you hope to lure into a lifetime of nicotine addiction, are you any better than the tobacconists that you claim to be saving people from?

Of course not. Why would we try to appeal to people who are unable to purchase our products? That would be commercial suicide.

Please explain to us why you chose this ridiculous childish packaging with ponies and unicorns on over a more adult theme that would surely suit your product better? Do you expect anyone to take you seriously?

Our managing director is a "brony" and stands by an adults right to like "My Little Pony" products without being discriminated against.

 

[Simon G]

Yes, we did.


Because, whilst the branding might be seen by some to appeal to the underaged, in law nobody is actually allowed to sell these products to anyone under the age of 18. The packaging has been shown to appeal to adults and children alike, but only adults can buy them.


Our product is aimed at people who are trying to give up smoking, and as such we are trying to appeal to as larger cross section of that demographic, who are able to legally purchase our product, as possible.


Of course not. Why would we try to appeal to people who are unable to purchase our products? That would be commercial suicide.


Our managing director is a "brony" and stands by an adults right to like "My Little Pony" products without being discriminated against.

Good effort .... the only problem now is that doesn't make a good click-baity headline and The Sun have just told me they aren't interested in publishing your side of this argument.

Although they may be interested in running the Managing Director of a vape company that's a Brony angle. ... they will go with 'My Little Vapony' as the headline.

 

[Crewella]

Because I don't think it's defendable.

Let's pretend you've just brought out a juice line with very child-like packaging, childish names, bright colours, ponies and unicorns all that stuff. This would be my accusation to you....

The packaging isn't an accident, you've chosen to go down this route in a meeting, you've all sat around and asked yourselves "how should we market and package this" and you've decided to take all the things associated with Children's sweets, toys, kids food packets, kids drinks, cartoon characters, and to make it look as harmless and fun as possible.

You claim that your product is an adult product, you claim that it should be seen as a serious harm reduction tool for smokers, you claim that you are not trying to get underage teenage non-smokers interested in your products, yet you choose to go down this route .... why is that Ms @Crewella ?

Is it not true that your company cannot grow or survive without attracting new vapers? ... and is it not true that the best time to hook people into becoming long term users of your product is to get them at a young age?

Is it not the case that you chose this packaging to appeal to young non-smokers that you hope to lure into a lifetime of nicotine addiction, are you any better than the tobacconists that you claim to be saving people from? Please explain to us why you chose this ridiculous childish packaging with ponies and unicorns on over a more adult theme that would surely suit your product better? Do you expect anyone to take you seriously?

EDIT: this is roleplay in case anyone doesn't get it.

I wasn't trying to defend it. And I said at the start I didn't like the lazy marketing. Remember, I only vape tobacco flavours ...... erm ......... more 'grown up' flavours .......

How about Dinner Ladies then ...... which was why this subject was rolling round in my head?

.... and no, it's not true ..... times ... erm .... several!

 

[Simon G]

I wasn't trying to defend it. And I said at the start I didn't like the lazy marketing. Remember, I only vape tobacco flavours ...... erm ......... more 'grown up' flavours .......

How about Dinner Ladies then ...... which was why this subject was rolling round in my head?

.... and no, it's not true ..... times ... erm .... several!

No, I know you weren't ..... and I'm not trying to condemn it either really (but others will). I don't really care what packaging looks like, I'm too old and too cynical to give a crap. I just think it doesn't look good to the 'outside world' and it puts ammo in the gun for people to shoot us down with.... as this published article shows. I just wish companies would maybe choose a different route to go down.

 

[Crewella]

No, I know you weren't ..... and I'm not trying to condemn it either really (but others will). I don't really care what packaging looks like, I'm too old and too cynical to give a crap. I just think it doesn't look good to the 'outside world' and it puts ammo in the gun for people to shoot us down with.... as this published article shows. I just wish companies would maybe choose a different route to go down.

It just strikes me sometimes that the 'ammo in the gun' has more power if we all seem so shit scared of it and back off looking worried every time it's mentioned.

There are companies that do push the boundaries, but bubblegum flavour is bubblegum flavour ... however old you are.

 

[zouzounaki]

It just strikes me sometimes that the 'ammo in the gun' has more power if we all seem so shit scared of it and back off looking worried every time it's mentioned.

There are companies that do push the boundaries, but bubblegum flavour is bubblegum flavour ... however old you are.

I have a tobacco blend with figgy-wiggy on the go at the minute. It’s not bad.

 

[Simon G]

It just strikes me sometimes that the 'ammo in the gun' has more power if we all seem so shit scared of it and back off looking worried every time it's mentioned.

I think there's 3 positions you can take

You think manufacturers should be able to put anything they want on the boxes and labels
You think there's a line somewhere
You think all e-liquid should be sold in pain boxes

I think most people would agree that manufacturers should be in position 2, but I think some of these manufacturers think they are position 1, maybe like you say because they don't want to look weak or scared or worried. So they load the gun give it to the others side and say "shoot me down if you can" .... the other side being huge billion dollar industries like BT and Pharma. ...... I'm not sure if that's admirable or suicidal?