Sultry Spearmint Rhino ad cleared

A poster for Spearmint Rhino lap-dancing club, featuring two models in revealing poses – which even the ad watchdog deemed “sultry” – has been cleared despite complaints that it was offensive and not suitable for public display.
The ad promoted a new restaurant at the venue, called “Wild Ginger”, and featured two women visible from the waist up. One wore a small bikini top, the second wore long gold gloves and a low cut top with most of her chest covered by her hair.
But the Advertising Standards Authority received a number of complaints that the poster was offensive and irresponsible because they claimed it had appeared where it could be seen by children.
In its defence Spearmint Rhino said it had no issue with the ad because it believed it was not offensive in any way, shape or form. And the poster contractor, Outdoor Plus, said no placement restrictions had been applied to because it was not considered inappropriate.
For once, the ASA agreed, saying the pose was sultry but not excessively sexual. Although it considered some members of the public would find the image distasteful, it did not consider the ad was likely to cause serious or widespread offence.
And because the ad was placed away from schools or business that provided children-based services, albeit unintentionally, it concluded the ad was not irresponsible, and cleared it for further use.