John Lewis, Debenhams censored over Black Friday ads Retail John Lewis, Debenhams and Boots have been censored over “misleading” Black Friday ads after being accused of overstating the discounts on offer to shoppers. The three retail giants have had their adverts banned by the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA), which monitors ads using an AI-powered tool. The watchdog has been cracking down on retailers’ pricing claims [...]
Lidl and Iceland censored under junk food ad rules Retail Lidl and Iceland have become the first supermarkets to have adverts blocked by regulators under the government’s crackdown on junk food. The rules cover some sugary and fatty foods, including sweets, pizza and chocolate. The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) has been policing the new ban since January, but today’s warnings are the first it has [...]
Easyjet rebuked over ‘misleading’ £5.99 cabin bag deal Aviation Easyjet has been warned by the advertising watchdog over a “misleading” tab on its website which suggested that passengers could get a large cabin bag ‘from £5.99’. The Advertising Standards Agency (ASA) said it had not seen “sufficient evidence” that it was possible to book large cabin bags at this price across a range of [...]
Coinbase ‘everything’s fine’ crypto ad banned by watchdog January 28, 2026 A cryptocurrency advert which depicted people in grotty homes singing “everything is fine” has been banned by the advertising watchdog. The adverts, which included a video ad and three posters and were commissioned by cryptocurrency trading platform Coinbase, were banned by the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) after an investigation found they trivialised the risks of [...]
Nike and Superdry adverts banned in ‘greenwashing’ crackdown December 3, 2025 Adverts produced by Nike, Superdry and Lacoste which claimed to promote sustainable clothing have been banned by the advertising watchdog as part of a major crackdown on corporate greenwashing. The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) upheld complaints against the three fashion giants, assessing that environmental claims made in a series of search engine adverts were exaggerated [...]
Supreme CBD: Celeb-backed brand rapped for third time by advertising watchdog October 29, 2025 Supreme CBD, the brand founded by ex-boxer Anthony Fowler and endorsed by former Premier League footballers, has been forced to remove an advert for claiming its products could treat anxiety and depression. The Advertising Standards Authority upheld a complaint that an ad Fowler published on his Instagram account in May touted Supreme CBD as a [...]
Strongbow and Jägermeister social media ads banned for promoting irresponsible drinking September 10, 2025 Social media posts by Strongbow and Jägermeister have been banned by the UK’s advertising watchdog for suggesting that alcohol takes priority in life and social settings. Two Jägermeister ads on social media and one Instagram skit promoting a can of strawberry Strongbow – which is owned by Heineken – have been banned by the Advertising [...]
Brewdog ad banned for promoting beer as ‘solution for loneliness’ August 6, 2025 A Brewdog advert has been banned by the advertising watchdog for suggesting that one of its beers could be a remedy for boredom, loneliness and frustration. The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) ruled that a poster to promote the Scottish brewer’s Wingman IPA beer implied it could be a solution to overcoming several daily problems – [...]
Octopus heat pump ad claim row boils over July 30, 2025 A war of words has erupted between energy providers after an Octopus Energy advert was banned for claiming that households could have a heat pump installed for as little as £500. The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) upheld a complaint against the Greg Jackson-run energy giant, ruling that not enough customers were eligible for the £500 [...]
Brentford FC sponsor rapped by watchdog for pushing gambling to kids July 23, 2025 Premier League club Brentford FC’s main sponsor, Hollywoodbets, has been rapped by the advertising watchdog for targeting children. The Advertising Standards Authority today upheld a complaint from a minor prompted by an ad for the bookmaker on the esports website Virtual Football League. The complainant was presented with the ad, which urged users to sign [...]