Uproar over ‘in my mouth’ e-cig ad

screen-shot-2013-12-03-at-21-49-29The ad watchdog has been inundated with complaints over a raunchy TV ad for e-cigarette brand VIP which includes a model saying: “I want you to get it out, I want to see it, I want to feel it, hold it, put it in my mouth, I want to see how great it tastes.”
The 20-second TV spots, which cannot include the product in the ad, were cleared by industry body Clearcast and launched last month in the Granada region.
However, since airing just after the watershed during I’m a Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here! on ITV, the Advertising Standards Authority has received what it called a “significant number” of complaints. A second commercial, also recently released, shows a man making similar statements including: “Do you want to see it? I can get it out if you like.”
“The ASA has received a significant number of complaints about two TV ads for VIP electronic cigarettes,” an ASA spokesman said. “Complainants object that the language used in the ads is overly sexual and offensive while others object that the ad sexualises and glamorises e-cigarettes and/or smoking. We have now launched a formal investigation into these ads.”
VIP said the activity represented a “new generation” of TV advertising for e-cigarettes following recent ASA rulings, which included ads being banned for not making it clear the e-cigarettes contained nicotine.
At the time of the launch, VIP co-founder David Levin said: “I think it’s safe to say that our ads could be considered controversial and definitely push the boundaries. However, we make no apologies for this.
“Due to advertising regulations, we were not permitted to include the product in the ad, so we decided to take a tongue-in-cheek approach to appeal to an adult audience and communicate the superior taste of VIP products whilst making it clear that they do contain nicotine.”

Related stories
ASA refuses to muzzle Confused ad
Confused.com defends ‘dogging’ ad
Steamy Coty ad puts ITV in dock
Coty ‘child sexualisation’ ad flayed
YSL Opium flayed for drug theme
ASA slams ‘crass’ Pot Noodle ad
‘Oo-er missus’ mailer hit by ad ban
ASA hits mother f#cker BrewDog
Renault ad too Va Va Voom says ASA
‘Sexist Pussy’ mauled by watchdog

1 Comment on "Uproar over ‘in my mouth’ e-cig ad"

  1. Er, is this ad offensive? “I want you to get it out, I want feel it, hold it, put it in my mouth” http://t.co/gFARTPeoT2 #advertising #data

Comments are closed.