'Vulgar' Tango adverts cleared by watchdog

A series of "vulgar" posters advertising Tango fizzy drink, with references to "bestiality", have been cleared despite many consumers complaining about them.

The Advertising Standards Authority investigated three posters promoting Tango, which it admitted contained "possible sexual implications" but the watchdog decided they were unlikely to cause "widespread offence or be seen as irresponsible".

The first poster stated: "TOO MUCH TANGO Made me suck a Bull's UDDER". The second poster that was under investigation ran: "Too much TANGO MAKES YOUR GUFFS 'Smell Like Oranges' Seriously, I just did one". The third poster said: "TOO MUCH TANGO MADE ME SHAVE MY NAN. INNIT".



The authority received 82 complaints from consumers, an unusually high number of complaints for a billboard advert.

The authority did not uphold the complaints against any of the posters. Ruling on the first poster, it said: "Despite the possible sexual implications to some, we considered that the ad presented an outlandish and ridiculous scenario as opposed to an explicit reference to bestiality, and any perversity was outweighed by the absurdity of the notion."

It said the second poster, referring to "guffs", was "unedifying" and "vulgar" but would be seen as humorous by many people. It dismissed complaints against the third advert – who argued it would encourage drinkers of Tango to "shave a hairy, elderly relative" as "clearly ridiculous".