Motorists at Esso stations operated by Circle K across Toronto find themselves inundated by advertising for the vaping product Vype, a creation of the British-American Tobacco Company (BAT) of London, England. Ads are found around and on the gas pumps. The promotion is present on the walk to the store, on the inside and outside of the door as well as on, around and behind the counter. Advertising for the Vype product, which contains nicotine, is said to be controlled to prevent lifestyle depictions. Just how that is defined seems an open matter to most laypersons. Health Canada shut down a Vype pop up promotion on Dundas Square on April 22 because it was deemed to be promoting vaping as a lifestyle.
MOORE PARK MOM COMPLAINS
Rani Jamieson, the mother of three young sons, believes the Vype campaign is designed to recruit impressionable kids into the habit. She has been told that vaping has appeared among seventh graders at Deer Park Public School. Ms. Jamieson has seen Vype advertising in bus shelters this week on Bayview Ave. The Moore Park resident says she finds the campaign unconscionable and is in the process of complaining to the Health Department.
