The UK’s Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) has issued a ruling against Apollo Future Technology Ltd. Finding that the advert breached sections 1.3 (social responsibility), and 1.10 (legal). And 22.12 (vapes) of the CAP Code (Version 12).
UK Advertising Standards Authority
According to the British Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) website on June 26, the ASA issued a ruling on Apollo Future Technology Ltd.
UK Apolloll.com January 17, 2024 One of the vape brand website Vapes company. apolloecigs.co.uk shows a page titled “Alliance Program”. If you have a website (or other Internet marketing channel) that helps promote Apollo products and drive traffic to our website, you may generate sales indirectly through your website. You’ll get a unique URL that automatically tracks all the sales your site generates. We even give you banner ads and text links that you just have to select, copy, and paste.” The text below reads: “Click here to create an Apollo Alliance account.”
The ASA questioned whether the AD breached advertising standards by encouraging the promotion of vapes and their associated components through online media. Where the vaping tar-containing e-liquids and their components were unlicensed.
Apollo Future Technology Ltd Enterprise (Apollolol), the name of VapesUK, said they have removed the affiliate program page from the platform.
They explained that their UK alliance plans to work with commodity evaluation websites that evaluate and rank products for adult vape customers. They believe that allowing these sites to evaluate their products does not violate UK laws and regulations. But if they do. They will stop working with these sites.
The Tobacco and Related Products Regulation 2016 reflects the legislative ban of CAP Code 22.12 (TRPR). The advertising of unlicensed tar-containing vapes in some media. According to this regulation, any marketing communication that has the effect of directly or indirectly promoting vaping tar vapes and their components. Unless it is a media specifically aimed at trade, such products are not licensed as medicines. And may not be carried out in some forms of electronic media such as newspapers. Magazines, journals, online media, etc.
The ASA said it had previously found that advertisements promoting vaping tar-containing e-cigarettes on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and public social media accounts. Such as Discord and TikTok, violated Section 22.12 of the CAP code.
The advertisements on Apollo VapesUK’s website are not aimed at specific e-cigarettes or vape brands. So the ASA believes that it does not directly promote unlicensed vaping tar e-cigarettes. So the ASA assessed whether the advertising had the effect of indirectly promoting such products.
The Apollo Affiliate Program web page includes a text link that customers can click to enter their details to become an online affiliate member. The web page also lists the benefits of being an affiliate member. Including the money they can earn. The unique URLs they can receive to track sales, and the banners and images Apollo provides to add to the affiliate platform. “If you have a website (or other Internet marketing channel) that helps promote Apollo products and drive traffic to our website. You can generate sales indirectly through your website,” the page reads.
The ASA considers references to “other online marketing channels” to include social media. So the AD encourages people to become members of Apollo’s affiliate. Which will promote the sale of e-cigarettes and their components on social platforms on behalf of advertisers. Therefore, Rule 22.12 applies to online media restrictions.
Therefore, the ASA believes that this means that the advertisement is indirectly promoted. The sale of tar-containing vapes and their components through the alliance program. While these products are not permitted as medicine in online media. In addition, they said the ads incited hidden alliance members to violate the advertising code and legislative prohibitions in TRPR. Encouraging people to promote such products on social platforms.
The ASA concluded that the advertisement breached section 1.3 (Social responsibility) of the CAP Code (Version 12) because it indirectly promoted unlicensed vaping tar vapes and their components and did not responsibly incite everyone to break the law, 1.10 (legal), and 22.12 (vapes).
The agency stressed that the AD cannot be repeated by way of an investigation.
Apollolool notifies ASA Future Technology Ltd Enterprise (Apollolol) Vapes UK) that they must ensure that future marketing communications do not directly or indirectly promote unlicensed vaping tar e-cigarettes and their components. Such as through advertising for the Alliance Program. And make sure they don’t incite everyone to break the law.
