The current watershed ban on adverts for condoms is set to be abandoned in a historic decision by the bodies responsible for writing the advertising codes, the Committee of Advertising Practice (CAP) and the Broadcast Committee of Advertising Practice (Bcap). At the moment, condom manufacturers and abortion clinics cannot advertise before the 9:00 p.m. watershed but rising teenage pregnancy and STI infection rates have lead to a re-think of current guidelines.
The consultation document expresses the intention to relax the watershed “in response to evidence from the Independent Advisory Group on Sexual Health and in light of the U.K having the highest teenage pregnancy rate in Europe.” Figures suggest that between 2002 and 2006, 11,000 under-16s were diagnosed with an STI. The consultation also opens the way for pregnancy advisory services to advertise for the first time on the radio and television, though a proviso has been added that the adverts must be clear as to whether or not abortions are offered.
Naturally, the proposed change to advertising standards has been met with loud criticism from the usual sectors, namely pro-life groups and religious organisations. The Director of the Society for the Protection of Unborn Children said the move would “further commercialise the killing of unborn children”, referring to abortion adverts. One spokesperson from the charity, Life, Michaela Aston, even suggested that the changes would lead to (what clearly is the next logical step) “free condoms in breakfast cereals”. The debate provoked by the announcement comes hot on the heels of the furore provoked by the Pope’s comments condemning condom promotion as a measure that could “aggravate” the AIDS crisis in Africa.