Alcohol Concern

Alcohol Concern is a fake-charity (#291705) that in the financial year ending 2011, received most of its £1.22M funds from the taxpayer.

Department of Health: £300,000

Welsh Assembly Government: £250,000

Consultancy Fees: £377,349

It also sucked £142,084 out of the Big Lottery Fund

Its stated purpose is:

The national charity on alcohol misuse for England and Wales, campaigning for effective alcohol policy and improved services for people whose lives are affected by alcohol-related problems.

So, a charity, funded by government, to lobby government.

ASA complaints

Lost - Estrella Beer - 3 Oct 2012

A complaint for an advert for Estrella beer was placed. Described as:

[...] the story of a young male traveller meeting two young women and the three of them exploring a Spanish island.

[...]

The man then approached the two women who were sitting outside a bar drinking Estrella and he showed them a map of the island. The following scenes featured the three characters driving around the island, swimming, sunbathing, on a boat and at a beach party together.

In one scene, the male traveller was shown carrying two bottles of Estrella on the beach.

In another scene, the main character and the dark-haired woman were seen trying hats on in the market and the woman kissed the man briefly on the lips.

In another scene, bottles of Estrella were distributed to a group of friends at a lunch gathering. A further scene showed the male character at a beach party being greeted affectionately by a male party-goer who was holding a bottle of Estrella. The ad ended with the male character being dropped off at the ferry terminal by the two women.

He kissed his finger and planted this affectionately on the dark-haired woman's lips. He walked up the gang plank and took a swig from his bottle of Estrella beer. As he lowered the bottle the story began again.

Alcohol Concern had the following complaints:

1. linked alcohol with sexual activity, sexual success or seduction;

2. implied that alcohol contributed to the male character's popularity; and

3. implied that the success of the holiday depended on the presence of alcohol.

All three complaints were thrown out.

Lost - Bulmers Cider - 19 Sep 2012

showed a man stopping people in the street and inviting them to a concert featuring his friend's band. Some were seen accepting, whilst others declined. The same man was then seen in a bar, where attendees of the concert had gathered. He announced "Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome my friend's band, Plan B!" and his announcement was greeted with cheers from the audience. Plan B was seen walking to the stage and placing a glass of the advertised product down on an amplifier before beginning his performance. Crowd shots showed the audience smiling, dancing and holding glasses of the advertised product aloft.

Alcohol Concern had the following complaint:

1. Alcohol Concern, on behalf of the Youth Alcohol Advertising Council (YAAC), challenged whether the ads implied that Plan B's confidence had been increased and, by implication, his performance improved, by the consumption of alcohol.

While (not unusual in general) the ASA stuck their oar in:

The ASA challenged whether the ads:

2. were irresponsible, because they were likely to appeal strongly to people under 18; and

3. implied that the success of a social occasion depended on the presence or consumption of alcohol.

All three were 'not upheld'.