A post featuring comedian Tommy Tiernan drinking poitín in Connemara has been rapped by the advertising watchdog.
The Advertising Standards Authority upheld complaints made after VisitGalway.ie shared the Christmas video, without any message promoting responsible drinking.
In the video, Tiernan states: ‘So to me, poitín, apart from being a beautiful drink when it’s made right, is also a great metaphor for Connemara, in that it’s independent, it’s outlaw, it’s beautiful, but it can also drive you crazy.
‘There’s many a decent man toothless but has ended up in psychiatric hospitals drinking this from the age of about seven. But here’s to your health and here’s to Connemara.’
After taking a sip of the drink, he says: ‘Oh, that’s gorgeous lads, oh Jesus, that’s really nice.
‘Oh my good God, it’s kind of sweet and drinky at the same time. Oh, I do feel like lying down in a field. Oh my God.’
The complainant objected to the fact that the post did not include a responsibility message, and was making light of the over-indulgence of alcohol.
They also thought the description of how the drink tasted by the person in the video was glorifying alcohol, and normalising drinking by young children.
The complaints committee of the ASA agreed, noting that the video had been shared on VisitGalway’s own X account, while wishing its followers a happy Christmas. In response, VisitGalway told the ASA it was not an official tourism agency, but they were individuals sharing their love for Galway, and therefore they were not advertisers.
They said the content was created by a separate creator and they simply re-shared it.
They said as they did not want to cause offence or breach any laws or standards, they had removed the post.
The ASA council said the website was a commercial website, and it considered that content posted by the account was advertising.
A pregnant social media influencer also fell foul of the advertising code for promoting a nutritional product not suitable for use during pregnancy or while breastfeeding. The influencer, who was not named by the ASA, was seen mixing up a Spacegoods product called ‘rainbow dust’, which the product packaging stated was a ‘mushroom and adaptogens super blend’.
The complaints committee concluded that the advertisement could encourage unsafe practices. Complaints about 12 different ads for Botox treatments across the country were upheld by the advertising watchdog, as part of a probe into cosmetic treatment advertising.
The ASA found the ads, which variously promised ‘anti-wrinkly injections’, ‘Brotox’ for men and ‘an evening with Botox’, breached its code, which bans the advertising of prescription-only medicines to the public.
In total, its complaints council has upheld 23 cases in full in its latest complaints bulletin, including those on social media, online, in store and in direct marketing.
Marks and Spencer was criticised for an in-store poster which promised, ‘25% Off All Beauty’, when many products were excluded.
Electric Ireland invited people to sign up to a discounted rate, which was higher than their existing rate.
Orla Twomey, ASA chief executive, said: ‘The ASA is committed to protecting consumers from advertising that is misleading, harmful, or offensive.
‘Our latest complaints bulletin showcases the range of cases we address and reflects our continued dedication to honesty, transparency, and integrity across Ireland’s advertising landscape.
She added: ‘Several of the upheld cases featured in this bulletin stem from our Botox monitoring project, which reviewed online advertising for cosmetic treatments promoted on advertisers’ websites.
‘These rulings highlight the importance of transparency and responsibility in all forms of advertising.
