This weeks rulings have been published. The following advertisers have been formally investigated by the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA).
Rulings for: 25 October 2017
- Diamond Whites – Upheld
A Snapchat snap by marniegshore, seen on 20 June 2017, showed an image of Marnie Simpson holding a Diamond Whites product close to her face. Text on the snap stated “50% off everything from Diamond Whites! Swipe up [Heart emoji]” and “www.diamondwhites.co”….
- Unleashed PR Ltd t/a I Spy Eyes – Upheld
A Snapchat snap by marniegshore, seen on 20 June 2017, showed an image of Marnie Simpson wearing grey contact lenses. Text on the snap stated “[Heart emoji] mrs grey coming soon”.
- APC Agri Supplies Ltd – Upheld
A website for APC Agri Supplies Ltd, seen on 31 May 2017, featured a page headed “Redi-Bed”. Text stated “Tom Crawford has been using Redi-Bed successfully on his farm for almost 5 years …”.
- Amazon Europe Core Sarl – Upheld in part
Claims on www.amazon.co.uk, relating to delivery charges for an electronic product sold by AmazonBasics, seen on 21 July 2015:
The search listing included the product name, the seller name and the price (£18.49) on the left-hand side of the listing. To the right-hand side, under a star rating, text stated “…
- Aquil Ltd – Upheld
A leaflet for Aquil Ltd, a shoe insole company, inserted in to a daily newspaper, was seen on 6 May 2017. It included text which stated “Your feet can now heal your body … Helps with weight loss … Improves your concentration … Reduces your blood pressure … Strengthen the heart and immune system”. It also included …
- B-LIFE Ltd t/a ADrop – Upheld
A magazine ad for ADrop, a water ioniser, seen in March 2017 under the heading “IONISED ALKALINE WATER-A NATURAL WAY TO IMPROVE YOUR CIRCULATION” included the text, “I was diagnosed with diabetes 18 years ago … I learnt that our bodies are more acidic than they should be … Drinking plenty of water is important to ke…
- BoardwalkBuy – Upheld
A paid-for Facebook post for Boardwalk Buy, a shopping website, seen on 5 July 2017, advertised a pressure washer and featured text stating “High Pressure Power Washer – Transforms A Garden Hose Into A Pressure Washer”. The sponsored post included a video demonstrating the product removing grime and paint from vario…
A press ad for the health supplements supplier FutureYou, seen on 28 March 2017, promoted the bard supplement Turmeric+. The ad featured the claim “Support Healthy Joints with TURMERIC+” alongside an image of the product which included the claims “supports healthy joints” and “helps maintain…
Two ads marketing approved used Alfa Romeo cars on www.usedcars.alfaromeo.co.uk, seen on 13 May 2016:
a. The first ad featured text that stated “Alfa Romeo Approved Used GIULIETTA ALFA ROMEO GIULIETTA 2.0 JTDM-2 SPORTIVA ALFA TCT 5DR (SAT NAV) IN WHITE £16,995 DIESEL … MANUAL 9,600ML, 64…
- Healthspan Ltd – Upheld
A press ad for the vitamin and supplements supplier Healthspan, seen on 27 March 2017, promoted the supplement “Opti-Turmeric”, and featured the headline claim “Turmeric absorption unlocked”. The ad featured an image of the product pack, which contained the text “Opti-Turmeric. Optimal absorption curc…
A leaflet for Photo Therapeutics, seen on 17 July 2017, for the No!No! Micro hair removal device featured a headline price statement (in red coloured text) on both the front and back pages that stated “Yours now from under £50†”. The third page of the leaflet stated “YOURS NOW FOR ONLY £49.66” and “†followed by 2 pa…
- INEOS Upstream Limited – Upheld in part
A regional press ad for Ineos Group Ltd, a multinational chemicals company, seen in the Derbyshire Times in January 2017, featured a seven-page booklet which included information about the use of shale gas in the UK, titled “FRACKING [sic] What everyone should know”. The booklet included various sections, including …
- Ideal Shopping Direct Ltd t/a Create and Craft – Upheld in part
Two teleshopping ads, broadcast on the Create and Craft Channel, promoted a Disney die set with paper pad:
The first ad was broadcast between 7 pm and 9 pm on 18 May 2017. On-screen text stated “Disney Beauty and the Beast Theatrical A Romance Beyond Words Limited Edition with Paper Pad CLUB PRICE £26.99 Cr…
- Ideal Shopping Direct Ltd – Not Upheld
An ad for a stationary exercise bike, seen on www.idealworld.tv in July 2017, stated “Bike Box Hands Free Compact Exercise Bike. £89.99. Save £100.00. Usually £189.99 [crossed out]”.
- Kerry Foods Limited – Not Upheld
A TV ad for Richmond Sausages, seen on 26 and 29 July 2017, featured a voice-over that said, “Richmond, proud to be the nation’s favourite”.
- ML&S Martin Lynch & Sons Ltd – Upheld
Claims on a website for an amateur radio equipment retailer, www.hamradio.co.uk, seen on 20 July 2017. Text stated, ML&S martin lynch & sons [sic] The World’s Favourite Ham Store”.
- New Nordic Ltd – Upheld
Two magazine ads for New Nordic bard supplements:
a. An ad for “Blue Berry Eyebright plus” seen in February 2017 included text which stated, “Could Blueberries help your eyesight? In the Second World War pilots were said to have eaten blueberries to improve their night vision. Could they help your sight, too? …
A website for wood burning stove retailer Wood Burner World, www.woodburnerworld.co.uk, seen on 18 June 2017. The web page, which promoted the ‘Mitra Multifuel Woodburning Stove – 6kW’, stated “£169.97 (Inc. VAT) RRP £299.98 [crossed out] Save £130”. The page also contained text that stated, “Offer ends in” and feat…
- Purplebricks Group plc t/a Purple Bricks – Not Upheld
A website for Purplebricks, an online estate agent, www.purplebricks.com, seen between September 2016 and February 2017, featured a page headed “MEET OUR EXPERTS”. Text on the page stated “Our Local Experts are some of the most respected estate agents in their local area. Below the text a banner st…
- Sky UK Ltd – Upheld
A TV ad for Sky Mobile, seen on 15 and 24 April 2017, showed the actor Tom Hardy walking along a path and a beach in wintry weather, wearing old and worn shoes. The voice-over stated, “Things can look tired a year on from when you bought them. Like your phone. Once it was the hot, new model. Not anymore. That’s…
- St Christopher’s School – Not Upheld
The homepage of the website for St Christopher’s School, an independent primary school in Canterbury, www.stchristopherscanterbury.org.uk, seen in July 2017, stated “100% grammar success in 2016”. Smaller text beneath the main claim stated “The Kent Test, the Dover Grammar School Test, the Shepway Test, and the Swal…
- Surrey Police – Upheld
A TV ad for Surrey Police, seen on 4 August 2017, depicted a phone sitting on a table next to a sofa. A baby or young child could be heard crying through the adjacent wall. Text appeared on the screen stating “Hello, Surrey Police 999 emergency. My neighbour’s kids are being noisy”. “Noisy”, written in blue text, wa…
Three tweets from youthenergy seen on 10 May:
- The first tweet stated, “All our plant ingredients have cell renewal action … because it’s fun to stay young … #YOUTHENERGYDRINK #youth #energy #antiageing”.
- The second tweet, which @youthenergyHQ had retweeted, stated “For those who drink energy drinks…
- Walkden Group Ltd – Upheld in part
A website, www.walkdengroup.co.uk, seen in November 2016, promoted a spray-on coating for vehicles. Text on the homepage stated, “The Walkden Group is an authorised application centre of excellence for Industrial Polymer Inc. World Wide Network and we have many years of experience in applying the products which are …
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Previous rulings: 18 October 2017