The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) has not upheld 40 complaints against an L&P ad that shows two zombie friends exploring a post-apocalyptic cityscape.
The TV ad was described by some complainants as in poor taste and which would have a harmful effect on children.
Some complainants were also concerned the advertisement played when children would be watching television.
In one scene humans spot the zombies beside an urban swimming pool and turn away in fright.
The advertiser said the commercial was a light-hearted parody of ‘zomedy’ movies, and care was taken to ensure that the zombies’ appearance was not unnecessarily frightening.
The ASA’s complaints board said the advertisement was classified as GXC (General Except Children’s Programmes) and was screened within the constraints of its classification. The board agreed the zombie characters did not behave in an anti-social way and the setting was clearly fictitious and humorous. Therefore it ruled that it did not reach the threshold to be considered likely to cause fear, distress, harm or serious or widespread offence.
Complaint upheld against ad linking alcohol product to sexual success
The ASA has upheld a complaint about a Facebook advertisement for Nitro Vodka Guarana.
The ad is headed “Zero Regrets” with a picture showing an image of the legs of two bodies on a bed covered in a sheet. The wording next to the image says in part “Nitro Zero Sugar = Zero Regrets. Warning Nitro is the Strongest Energy RTD formulation and is pumped with Guarana so you may not get that much sleep … which sometimes ain’t a bad thang.”
The complainant was concerned the advertisement is implying alcohol can lead to sexual and social success.
The advertiser said the ad shows two people in bed in the morning without feeling any regrets about sleeping late and there is no inference to any sexual activity.
But the board ruled the combination of the image and the wording linked an alcohol product to sexual success which is in breach of the Code, and the requirement for a high standard of social responsibility in alcohol advertising.
The ad was therefore upheld.