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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to feel offended by rules on advertising sanitary protection?

54 replies

GrouseAndMagpie · 06/02/2015 22:12

Just discovered (via a guardian article - link at the bottom) that adverts for sanitary protection aren't allowed during or near to children's tv programmes. I'm feeling pretty offended by this! This puts menstruation in the same league as alcohol and gambling! I knew about the whole vat issue, but somehow the fact that these are ofcom's rules (as opposed to hmrc) and the fact that the list of restrictions is fairly simple (not the case for VAT rules!) makes this feel worse to me. Presumably from a business point of view companies wouldn't particularly want to advertise sanitary protection to under 10s anyway, but I think the fact they're not allowed to is ridiculous.

AIBU?

gu.com/p/455cj

OP posts:
BigChocFrenzy · 06/02/2015 22:30

Yes, it is ridiculous. Not like small DCs are going to rush out and spend all their pocket money each week on the very latest sanpro tech. Or have their innocence ruined in some way.

FrancesNiadova · 06/02/2015 22:34

In the late 80's I went to see Ben Elton; he was going on about how women's periods were pink & fluffy & fluffy & pink. Oh, it still makes me laugh!

HootsMon · 06/02/2015 22:41

I grew up during the era of the soft rock, high-octane bodyform ads. I thought you could always tell when a woman is on her period because she wears white trousers and cocks her leg up frequently.

Pipbin · 06/02/2015 22:59

pink & fluffy & fluffy & pink

My fanjo is fluffy and pink. Granted the fluff isn't pink..........................

Dizzbomb · 06/02/2015 23:19

I imagine some fuckwits complained and they thought 'well sod it, the sanitary product companies dont want to advertise to kids anyway, we might as well placate the silly bellends'.

VikingVolva · 06/02/2015 23:30

there are restrictions on all sorts of things which cannot be advertised during children's TV (or shown pre-watershed), and it's far more than just alcohol,and gambling.

So I don't really agree with you that it is unduly stigmatising, to sanpro (as the industry calls it) or to any other product sector that is regulated or not permitted during children's scheduling.

VikingVolva · 06/02/2015 23:37

Oh, and I don't think it was anything to do with complaints.

I can remember when no TV advertising of any sanpro was allowed at all, at any time. It started in the 1980s (?) and post-watershed only. It's crept to earlier slots since, but has never been shown during children's scheduling.

I can remember hearing Claire Rayner talking about the subject (and why blue liquid was chosen for the first forays, a decision that's stuck).

Passthecake30 · 06/02/2015 23:41

I don't mind tbh, my kids ask enough questions already, winged towels with blue liquid would only cause more

TrendStopper · 06/02/2015 23:58

I do think that it is a bit daft.

However if kids see their mothers with sanitary products they will ask questions. I will always remember the time when my dd was a toddler, we were in a public toilet and it was my time of the month. Out of the blue dd says 'why are you wearing a nappy mum?'
I did die a little of embarrassment.

ThinkIveBeenHacked · 07/02/2015 00:02

Surely the ads in amongst kids tv shows should be for kids stuff? Not sure about everyone else but I dont watch kids tv. So the ads surely dont need to be adult related?

We have sanpro freely available on view in the bathroom. DD and DS will know what its for as and when they ask the questions.Its not up to tv or marketing execs to normalise periods.....thats my job surely?

seaoflove · 07/02/2015 00:07

You'd think that adverts on kids' channels would be kids' stuff, right? But then I suppose people would complain about overly aggressive marketing at children...

Nick Jr., for example, seems to exclusively feature adverts for kids' stuff and cleaning products (Cilit Bang and Vanish are on constant rotation - I watch a lot of Nick Jr.). Y'know, for the mums Hmm So on that basis, sanitary products would fit right in.

DropYourSword · 07/02/2015 00:15

Offended?? I think first of all you should probably look into general ofcom rules regarding advertising before you decide that this is something that that puts menstruation in the same league as drinking and gambling.

Pixel · 07/02/2015 01:28

I remember when ads were only on late as well. A catch phrase in our house on seeing a tampon ad was "is it that time already?".

Tbh I'm often amazed at ads deemed to be suitable for children's channels. There seem to be a lot of loan companies and life insurance ones. Think it must be subliminal advertising for the parents who are getting on with stuff while their children watch tv and don't realise they are hearing it in the background!

MidniteScribbler · 07/02/2015 02:52

Quite frankly, I'd love to see a ban on all advertising during kids programs.

::retreats back to dream world::

ithoughtofitfirst · 07/02/2015 03:02

Oh fgs. So it's okay to normalise a disgusting level of consumerism but not okay for children to know that their mothers have a menstrual cycle. Oh God forbid.

sashh · 07/02/2015 06:12

I'm old enough to remember the hooha when they were tallking about actually having these ads.

Aebj · 07/02/2015 06:19

Sorry I can't read all the post because of reading passthecake30 comment!!! Oh the questions !!!

Aebj · 07/02/2015 06:19

I m still laughing to myself !!

differentnameforthis · 07/02/2015 06:58

They also aren't allowed to show blood or blood coloured liquids, I've heard, hence they use blue.

SoupDragon · 07/02/2015 07:05

there are restrictions on all sorts of things which cannot be advertised during children's TV

Why oh why do they not restrict sodding loan companies?

I do like the cillit bang adverts though as it means we can all shout "no you're not!" At Mr hi, I'm Barry Scott .

SoupDragon · 07/02/2015 07:06

TBF, I think not showing red liquids is fair enough though. It would be pretty rank.

DropYourSword · 07/02/2015 07:28

I think that's self imposed rather than being an actual rule!

Passthecake30 · 07/02/2015 13:20

I can see it now.....my kids would be recreating the adverts up in the bathroom, it would be just like a Ninaand the Neurons demonstration. ..

ifgrandmahadawilly · 07/02/2015 16:20

YANBU. Advertising sanpro shouldn't be any different to advertising something like toilet roll!

FryOneFatManic · 07/02/2015 16:30

San pro ads are just so patronising anyhow.

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