Prohibited Categories
Advertisements for products and services coming within the recognised character of, or specifically concerned with, the following are not acceptable:
a) Those who practise or advocate illegal or harmful, or potentially harmful, behaviour;
b) Betting tipsters;
c) Tobacco and tobacco products, including cigars and pipe tobacco (see Section 3, Rule 10);
d) Firearms and other weaponry (see Section 3, Rule 17);
e) Obscene and restricted material, prostitution and other sexual services (see Section 3, Rule 16);
f) Bodies whose rites and other forms of collective observance are not generally accessible to the public (see Section 3, Rule 3);
g) Advertisements of a political nature (see Section 2, Rule 15);
h) Prescription only Medicines (POMs).
i) Pyramid schemes
Pyramid schemes are those under which consumers pay or give other consideration for the opportunity to receive compensation that is derived primarily from the introduction of other consumers into the scheme, not the sale or consumption of products.
This rule reflects the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008. This rule applies to advertisements that appear after 21 November 2008.
An advertisement for an acceptable product or service may be withdrawn if the ASA considers that a significant effect is to publicise indirectly an unacceptable product or service.
