THE Advertising Standards Authority says revealing flesh in public advertisements isn’t a problem as long as you do it digitally.
It all started with a ‘scantily’ clad woman pictured wearing nothing but strategically placed student travel cards. The caption read, ‘Covers so much, costs so little’.
But in the true prudish tradition of the Brits, a complaint was lodged against Travel West Midlands, which had devised the ads, saying the image was sexually suggestive.
Apparently the ASA has a different definition of sexually suggestive and did not uphold the complaint.
The complainant also cliamed a nearly nude woman selling student travel cards was irrelevant and offensive.
Again, the ASA didn’t agree. In fact, 87% of regional newspaper readers polled said they weren’t offended by the advert.
Travel West Midlands said the posters featured both men and women photographed fully clothed. The clothing was later digitally removed to ensure dignity was kept and the photos were tastefully produced.
Travel West Midlands has now been allowed by the ASA to get maximum exposure out of its adverts.