The ASA has banned two ads displayed by US clothes retailer, American Apparel, which it says are “offensive and irresponsible” and in breach of CAP Code rules 1.3 (responsible advertising), 4.1 (harm and offence) and 5.1 (children). This latest adjudication is the sixth time in just the last two and a half years that the
Regulatory - UK
New focus for the ASA
The ASA has a new strategy for regulating ads, meaning it won’t always wait for complaints before acting against an offending brand. While the ASA has always had the power to take action itself without having to receive complaints, it’s clear that the regulator is now planning on taking a more proactive approach to enforcement.…
ASA Stubs Out Another e-Cigarette Ad
The ASA upheld a decision today concerning a campaign for e-cigarettes brand “Leolites” featuring the slogan: “E-CIGARETTES HAVE EVOLVED. LEOLITES.COM. LOVE YOUR LUNGS.”
The ASA considered that this slogan would likely be viewed by consumers to be a positive health claim, and judged it to be misleading. The brand owner contested this, and held that…
ASA Withdraws Pistorius Ad: Joke’s On You, Paddy Power
Last week, the ASA ordered Paddy Power to remove a newspaper ad offering “money back” on bets if Oscar Pistorius is found not guilty of murder. The ad showed a photograph of the South African Paralympian superimposed on a statue of an Oscar award, with the words: “It’s Oscar Time. Money back if he …
Non! – ASA Bans Kronenbourg Ad For Over-Emphasising French Connection
Kronenbourg’s advertising campaign starring French footballing icon Eric Cantona has been banned. The ASA investigated two separate ads for the same campaign; a TV ad and a print ad. The TV ad explained how French men were lauded like “British footballers” for growing the French sourced Strisselpalt Hop, a key ingredient of Kronenbourg. The print…
Botox Ads Frozen By The ASA
Following a complaint from the Independent Healthcare Advisory Service, the ASA has banned botox ads by Dermaskin and HB Health of Knightsbridge. The websites of each advertiser promoted the use of botox, stating it has the ability to make users appear younger and it leads to “astonishing results”. The ASA has ruled that such language…
Lucozade Sport Ad Fuels Complaints
The ASA has this week upheld the 63 complaints it received about an ad for Lucozade Sport, featuring professional rugby player Gareth Bale. The ad featured two groups of men running on treadmills, the water drinking group gradually dropping out of the activity whilst the Lucozade Sport drinking group continuing to run. The tagline boasted…
ASA Administers First Aid Ad Ban
In a rare move, the ASA overturned at the end of last year its previous decision to reject a complaint about the accuracy of data used in a St John Ambulance ad, and has banned the ad in its current form, after an independent review. The ad (watch it here) was the 10th…
Hard-Hitting RSPCA Ad Exterminated by ASA
The ASA has this week upheld complaints against an RSPCA ad that suggested badgers in cull areas would be "exterminated". The poster showed a picture of a badger, a bullet and a vaccination needle, asking: "Vaccinate or exterminate?" The ad’s text stated "The UK Government wants to shoot England’s badgers. We want to vaccinate them…
Fuel For Thought – CAP To Clean Up E-Car Ads
Following an upsurge in the number of electric and hybrid vehicles, an increasing competitiveness in the market, and a corresponding increase in the number of complaints regarding the marketing of such vehicles, CAP has released a message of advice for advertisers of electric and hybrid vehicles.
The ASA reported that complaints received related to “the…