Saturday, 17 January 2009

Department of Health Change4Life - Subliminal Advertising?

Subliminal advertising is banned in the UK, I'm guessing this only applies to split-second images.

Only recently we had the loan ads with that bloke allegedly on the phone to a loan company commenting "a little rain never hurt anyone". Yeah, like taking a loan doesn't affect your life! What on earth was the call centre operator asking that bloke anyway?


More recently there's that cartoon type advert from the DoH telling us to stop sitting around playing Xbox, getting fat and being lazy sods. Fair enough, but I spotted this little, rather innacurate, subliminal hint-

A car is seen crossing the sceen with the words "COMFY CAR" on it. Fine, usually cars are comfy, but then a bus enters the frame with the words "MORE COMFY BUS" on it.



Not only is this subtle hint completely wrong - I've never sat on a bus that's "more comfy" than a car, in this instance the bus is also seen overtaking the car!

I know they have good intensions, but that's cheeky subliminal advertising IMO.

The Change4Life ad can be seen on visit4info

1 comment:

Utility Belt said...

I agree. Do not let them get away with it.
http://www.asa.org.uk/asa/how_to_complain/
And give them two barrels.