Smoking rules in the Love Island villa revealed

Expert reveals Love Island’s smoking and vaping rules

An expert reveals Love Island's latest smoking and vaping rules as the hit show returns for its eleventh series.

 

While viewers might think the islanders have it easy with food, drink, clothes, and parties provided, there are strict rules around smoking and vaping that contestants must adhere to, as revealed by experts at Go Smoke Free.

 

The main rules at a glance:

 

• Disclosure: Islanders must disclose if they smoke or vape before entering the villa. If not, they aren't allowed to smoke.
• Daily allowance: Contestants are allocated a vape or up to 10 cigarettes a day.
• Designated area: There is a designated smoking area where only one person can smoke at a time.
• Prohibited items: Smoking items, such as lighters or vapes, cannot be taken into the villa from the smoking area.

 

Are islanders allowed to smoke or vape?

 

Producers do allow smokers in the villa, provided they disclose the habit before entering.

 

In previous seasons, contestants were given up to 20 cigarettes per day. This practice led to criticism for glamorising smoking, with a study revealing cigarettes appeared on screen every five minutes on average and was responsible for more than half of the show's Ofcom complaints in 2017. An Ofcom information request from 2023 reveals Love Island was the third most complained about TV show under the category “Drugs, smoking, solvents or alcohol” from January 2014 to November 2023, behind Coronation Street and Emmerdale. Consequently, ITV introduced significant changes in 2018. 

Season five islander Amy Hart revealed in a TikTok video smokers were given ten cigarettes a day and had to smoke alone in a monitored area at the front of the villa. Similarly, season nine’s Olivia and Maxwell confirmed in an interview with KISS FRESH that undisclosed smokers are not permitted to smoke at all.

 

Official smoking rules in the Love Island villa

 

In 2018, Paul Mortimer, ITV's Controller for Digital Channels, revealed to Radio Times that more than half of Ofcom's complaints about the show were related to smoking. This led to a ban on smoking within the villa and garden. Instead, a designated smoking area was established outside the villa grounds, which continues today. Season ten’s Casa Amor bombshell Kodie Murphy confirmed this in a TikTok video.

Only one contestant can smoke at a time, preventing group conversations and ensuring no important discussions occur off-camera. However, there is a camera set up in the smoke area.

 

When the ban was announced in 2018, Angela Jain, Managing Director of ITV Studios, explained to Radio Times, “We are treating it like smoking in a workplace. Everyone’s used to it at home—you can’t smoke in a restaurant, you can’t smoke at work. So we just created a very clear separate area at the front of the villa.”

Insights from previous islanders

2023 Love Island all-stars Hannah Elizabeth and Liberty Poole revealed in a KISS FRESH interview that many islanders vaped and often argued over who could use the smoking area first. Season ten’s Zac Ashford mentioned on TikTok that islanders were given designated times to use the smoking area.

 

During a Reddit Ask Me Anything (AMA) session, Laura Anderson from season four disclosed that producers provided “five for social smokers, 10 if daily smoker,” adding that once you have used up your allowance, you can’t have more: “When you finish that’s it.”

 

A spokesperson from Go Smoke Free commented:

 

“Smoke-free environments are essential for promoting healthier lifestyles and protecting public health. By implementing these stringent smoking rules, Love Island not only fosters a healthier atmosphere within the villa but also addresses the impact of smoking visibility on television. This approach ensures that the show does not glamorise smoking, aligning with viewer concerns and setting a responsible example in broadcasting.

“Smoking is a challenging addiction to break, and vaping is an effective tool to help individuals transition away from cigarettes. However, it’s vital that vaping is seen as a stop-smoking aid, and not adopted as a recreational habit.”

 

ENDS

 

If you use this analysis, please provide a linked mention to the experts at http://gosmokefree.co.uk/ who made this information available.

All the best,
Robert Dewey

 

robert.dewey@journoresearch.org

Phone inquires: +44208 050 0054

 

Journo Research

 

This email was sent on behalf of our client gosmokefree.co.uk. Journo Research operates as gosmokefree.co.uk’s Digital PR agency.

 

Part of Search Intelligence Ltd. Company registered in England No. 09361526

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