Google Ads for Restricted Products

Topic summary

Topic: Advertising Vape Products on Google Ads

A merchant selling vape products inquired about running Google Ads after observing some brands advertising similar products in certain regions.

Key Points:

  • Vape products are prohibited on Google Ads under the policy against “products designed to simulate tobacco smoking”
  • Official Google Merchant Center policy explicitly restricts these items
  • Brands currently running ads for vape products are violating policy and have simply not been detected yet

Outcome:

  • No legitimate workaround exists for advertising restricted vape products
  • Merchants violating this policy will eventually face account suspension
  • The discussion confirms there is no “proper way” to advertise these items on the platform
Summarized with AI on October 30. AI used: claude-sonnet-4-5-20250929.

I sell vape products, I see some brands runs Google Ads for vape products in certain region. Is there a proper way for me to operate Google Ads for restricted items on Google Ads?

Hello Kash, thank you for your question. Vape products are unfortunately not allowed.

Quote: Products designed to simulate tobacco smoking

Reference: https://support.google.com/merchants/answer/6150004?hl=en

If you see others list products, that means Google has not caught them yet, all merchants that violate Google’s policies will eventually get suspended.