Comedy Central rapped over ads

Comedy Central has been rapped for showing alcohol adverts during Friends, when a significant proportion of the audience was under 18.

The Advertising Standards Authority has ruled that in 79 episodes aired between October 2012 and April this year, the channel broke strict rules on marketing to young people.

Regulations say that alcohol adverts should not be shown in programmes that are especially popular with 10- to 15-year-olds. Comedy Central had previously blocked alcohol ads from the show, but lifted its ban early last year based on research which counted all children from four to 15.

The ASA said this ‘under-represented’ the sitcom’s appeal to older children, as it was less popular with the under-10s – and warned Comedy Central to use the right data in future.

Published: 4 Sep 2013