ASA slams Mazda over ‘fairground thrills’ ad

Mazda has been slammed by the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) for a press ad that the regulator has ruled was irresponsible and promoted aggressive driving.

The ad, for the Mazda MX-5, was headlined “Please remove all loose change” and showed a car navigating a sharp bend against a blurred background.

Mazda said it was meant to convey the same thrill as a fairground ride. But the ASA ruled that the wording and image made speed the key message. It has ordered Mazda to amend the ad.

⢠The ASA has also ordered St Ivel not to repeat claims that its Advance milk with added Omega 3 may enhance a child’s concentration and learning. The ads – fronted by Professor Lord Robert Winston – failed to prove that the Omega 3 in Advance would help children, the ASA says.

⢠The ASA has rejected more than 30 complaints about ads featuring images of bears and steel traps covered in blood for More 4’s documentary series, The State of Russia. The ASA says there was no actual suffering to bears and the ads were unlikely to cause serious offence or distress.