While tobacco and alcohol sales were already prohibited on Facebook Marketplace, as of this week, the new policy will also prohibit all private sales, trades, transfers and gifting of alcohol, tobacco products and e-cigarettes on Facebook and Instagram. According to CNN, any businesses that post content related to alcohol and tobacco will have to restrict content to people aged 18 and above.
“We are updating our regulated goods policy to prohibit the sale of alcohol and tobacco products between private individuals on Facebook and Instagram,” said a Facebook spokesperson in a statement. “Our commerce policies already prohibit the sale of tobacco or alcohol in places like Marketplace but we’re now extending this to organic content.”
Group administrators are being alerted to the changes. The new policy doesn’t apply to all Facebook and Instagram posts, as those which are not trying to sell the products will reportedly still be allowed. Interestingly, influencers who are paid to promote products, will still be allowed to post content about tobacco and vaping, and these posts will apparently have no age restrictions.
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