Facebook and its subsidiary Instagram will ban the sales, transfer and gifting of cigars on its platforms, including in private groups.
It’s part of a broader change the social network will enact today regarding alcohol and tobacco. It includes:
- Banning the Sale or Transfer of Alcohol/Tobacco Products — This includes private sales, giveaways, etc.
- Tobacco-related Brand Pages Must be 18+ — Any brand page that promotes the sale of tobacco will be restricted to those 18+.
- Violators Will be Removed — Facebook will use both humans and technology for enforcement. Those caught violating the policy can be removed, including groups.
In 2016, Facebook removed and then reinstated a number of cigar-related groups, largely those focused on the sales of cigars. The company told halfwheel that the groups had been removed in error.
Facebook had banned the sale of tobacco products through its Facebook Marketplace and tobacco companies have been barred from buying ads through Facebook and Instagram for years.
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