Big Tobacco is Exploiting COVID-19 Pandemic to Advertise Harmful and Addictive Products.
New Analysis Exposes How Big Tobacco is Exploiting COVID-19 Pandemic to Advertise Harmful and Addictive Products. May 14, 2020; https://www.tobaccofreekids.org/press-releases/2020_05_14_covid
Big Tobacco is Exploiting COVID-19 to Market its Harmful Products; https://www.tobaccofreekids.org/media/2020/2020_05_covid-marketing
“Tobacco and e-cigarette companies are exploiting the COVID-19 crisis to market their harmful and addictive products around the world, especially on social media, according to a Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids analysis of marketing tactics by big tobacco companies, e-cigarette makers and vape shops in 28 countries…
Examples are shown in three promotion areas:
1 EXPLOITING COVID-19 FOR BRAND PROMOTION OF TOBACCO PRODUCTS AND E-CIGARETTES ON SOCIAL MEDIA: Tobacco product marketing campaigns using COVID-19 references have been observed online, on social media, and through mobile text messages.
2 OFFERING SPECIAL COVID-19 SALES PROMOTIONS FOR TOBACCO PRODUCTS AND E-CIGARETTES.
3 UNDERMINING MINIMUM AGE PURCHASE REGULATIONS FOR TOBACCO PRODUCTS AND E-CIGARETTES
Tobacco companies take every opportunity to market to youth and they do it worldwide using multiple channels (social media and text messages), through ‘special’ sales promotions, and by disregarding regulations requiring a minimum age for purchase. This investigation by the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids in 28 countries gives examples of these marketing tactics.
by Stephen Hamann
