Wolves e-cigarette deal sparks storm of protest after stadium ban u-turn

WARRINGTON Wolves’ decision to lift a ban on using e-cigarettes in the Halliwell Jones Stadium AFTER signing a lucrative sponsorship deal with a national electronic cigarette brand has sparked a storm of protest amongst fans.
Warrington Borough Council’s public health team have also expressed disappointment about being not consulted.
A council spokesperson said: “The Council’s public health team is disappointed it was not consulted about Warrington Wolves’ decision regarding its position on vaping.
“The public health team will be taking national advice on the matter, including speaking to public health organisations in St Helen’s where vaping has been allowed at their stadium, Langtree Park, for the last year”.
As part of the sponsorship deal, TRUVAPE will be producing Warrington Wolves-branded e-cigarettes – or ‘vapourisers’ – to be sold in the Wolfware shop and online.
In addition, the South Stand is to be renamed the ‘TRUVAPE South Stand’ and TRUVAPE will work with the Wolves to help educate fans about the health impact of smoking, as well as the potential benefits of switching to an alternative like electronic cigarettes.
But the decision to lift the ban on using e-cigarettes has angered fans who took to social media plarforms to register their protests.
Comments posted on the warrington worldwide facebook page include: “Shocking example for children. They will see this and think it’s ok.”
Another fan posted: “Very, very bad. Poor judgement by the club.”
Another posted: “Is it April the 1st already? Is this for real?”
But the club have defended their position highlighting that in recent years the e-cigarette industry had become more involved in a variety of sports partnerships, including Doncaster Cup horse racing, Burnley, Celtic and Birmingham City football clubs, St Helens rugby league team and motor sports including the British Superbike Championship and British Touring Car teams.
Wolves’ decision to reverse the vaping ban follows a similar decision by the O2 Arena in 2013, when they teamed up with another e-cigarette brand and reversed their own vaping ban, allowing their guests the ability to vape without having to leave the O2 grounds.
Although electronic cigarette use, or ‘vaping’, has sometimes been a controversial topic in the press, recent UK figures from the Office of National
Statistics have shown that fears that they may ‘lure’ non-smokers into smoking are unfounded, as the latest data indicates those who use e-cigarettes are almost entirely current or former smokers. Not only had fewer people taken up smoking, but more smokers had quit.
And experts such as Professor West of UCL and John Britton, director of the UK Centre for Tobacco Control Studies (UKCTCS), have joined their voices to the debate in favour of electronic cigarettes, stating that they “offer a huge potential benefit to public health by helping smokers to shift to an alternative source of nicotine”.
Alex Wilson, Wolves’ commercial manager, said: “We are firmly committed to helping our fans make informed choices, particularly when it comes to health and fitness. Obviously the best option is to never smoke at all, but as a percentage of our fans are already smokers, we are pleased to be able to encourage them to consider switching to alternatives by allowing vaping in certain areas of the stadium, as well as providing a branded vapouriser that can be purchased on site.
“We initially introduced the vaping ban as a ‘just in case’ measure, but are now happy to reverse this as more news on the industry comes to light.
The fact that over 2 million people in the UK alone have already converted to vaping shows that this is an industry that is here to stay.
“We believe this partnership, with a reputable brand like TRUVAPE – known for their attention to safety and adherence to regulations – will help our fans enjoy a better matchday experience, and provide those who smoke with an alternative that experts believe has the potential to hugely reduce harm.”
After being asked to comment on the negative comments made by fans a club spokesperson added: “Following on from Friday’s announcement regarding the club’s latest partnership deal with TRUVAPE, a number of our supporters have aired their valued opinions across social media platforms. All of which the club will aim to take on board.
“Warrington Wolves are a club interested in the health and fitness of fans, particularly our younger and impressionable fan base. We have never condoned smoking in any way. In considering this partnership we have recognised statements from associated authorities expressing the huge potential health benefits of e-cigarettes in helping smokers to shift to an alternative source of nicotine. And this is why we’re confident in entering this partnership with TRUVAPE, a responsible company that have always stressed their products are not to be sold to minors, and are for use by smokers and ex-smokers only.
“As a club we will endeavour to continue providing a safe, family environment for Wolves’ fans and travelling supporters, enforcing the no-smoking policy just as strenuously as in previous seasons.
“We will continue to closely monitor the government and health authority work in this area and will obviously respond appropriately as this develops.
Picture shows: L-R: Ben Currie (Warrington Wolves), John Donoghue (regional sales manager, Truvape), Alex Wilson (commercial manager, Warrington Wolves), Gary Yeomans (country manager, Truvape), Gene Ormsby (Warrington Wolves)