Airport toilets can keep their sexy ads, watchdog rules

Sex toys can be advertised in airport toilet cubicles‚ the ad watchdog has ruled.

The Advertising Standards Authority was alerted to the posters at OR Tambo International in Johannesburg by Natalia Lumgair‚ whose child saw one when they were in a cubicle together.

Lumgair told the ASA that the Matildas.co.za posters — reading “Want more sexy adventure? Oh yes!” — were highly sexual and unsuitable for airports‚ where children might see them.

The website‚ which markets a range of sex toys‚ aids and lingerie‚ disputed Lumgair’s claims‚ telling the ASA it was a “sex-positive” company “helping people to have healthy ‚ happy sex lives”.

Dismissing Lumgair’s complaint‚ the ASA said Matildas had advertised in airports countrywide for three-and-a-half years and had deliberately avoided highly sexual visuals.

“Its advertising is upmarket‚ playful and fun‚ and it does not feel there is any opportunity for that to be misinterpreted‚” the ASA directorate said in its finding.

“It has taken great care to ensure that there is nothing in the adverting that would be inappropriate for younger readers.”

In fact‚ Matildas said‚ while its advertising was not designed for sex education‚ its look and feel encouraged a healthy and happy attitude towards the subject by adding adventure.

It also argued that the phrase “sex toys” was not used in the advertising‚ which spoke about “quality intimate toys and sexual health products for all your sexy needs”.

The ASA said there were no images on the posters and no explicit or vulgar words. “While the product references sex – as it would have to‚ given its business – the directorate is of the opinion that it does so in a matter-of-fact and inoffensive manner‚” it said.

“A very young child would not be able to read the advertisement‚ and an older child would be able to ask an adult any questions that the advertisement may provoke. This is reflected in the complaint itself‚ where [Lumgair] makes it clear that she was in the cubicle with her child when the child read it to her.

“The directorate understands that advertising such as this can provoke awkward and uncomfortable conversations for parents. However‚ this must be weighed against [Matildas’] right to advertise its product‚ and the fact that many other aspects of modern life provoke similar conversations‚ which cannot be avoided.”