Ethics Newsline®

Special to Newsline from Canadian correspondent Errol P. Mendes

TORONTO
The Globe & Mail is reporting that Canadian television viewers have bombarded the Advertising Standards Canada (ASC), an industry self-regulation body, with complaints about sexually explicit ads.

Over 1,540 complaints have been lodged with the ASC concerning beer ads that feature women with “exposed buttocks” getting rubbed with suntan lotion, women kissing women, and other ads that have women that are nude or scantily clad.

A creative director at one of the advertising companies, Benjamin Vendramin, has defended some of the ads, claiming that there is nothing wrong with sex in advertising as long as it is in good taste.

Television viewers also have complained about misleading ads and ads that encourage aggressive and high-speed driving.