Promotion of Tobacco and Nicotine Products and Delivery Systems: Breach of Legislation Analysis

While most Russian smokers prefer conventional cigarettes, e-cigarettes and vapes are becoming more and more popular. This situation causes public and governmental concern. The law prohibits to sell tobacco and nicotine products to minors, as well restricts their promotion and advertising. This article describes violations of the current legislation in the promotion of tobacco and nicotine-containing products and delivery systems. The authors analyzed the dynamics of demand for tobacco and nicotine products and delivery systems and compared the regulatory restrictions with the actual advertising practices. As a result, they identified the most popular tools and ways to circumvent the legislation in this sphere. The analysis involved advertising used by 152 trade organizations that sold tobacco and nicotine products and delivery systems between September 2024 and February 2025. It covered storefronts, exterior structures (billboards, standers, etc.), printing materials (flyers, booklets, posters), and internet publications (company websites, social media accounts, search engines, information and reference system services where the organizations post their interior and exterior photos). The research also included reports on violations published by the Federal Antimonopoly Service in 2020–2024. Violations in the field of nicotine advertising proved to be highly diverse. The most common ones referred to product placing in sales halls, advertising of individualization tools, and providing false information about the advantages of nicotine products.