Posted on 03/21/2006 9:36:53 PM PST by Aussie Dasher
FIRST it was "bloody", then it was "hell" and now it's "beer" itself that's tripping up an Australian tourism advertising campaign.
The recently launched and now controversial advertisement which concludes with the tagline "where the bloody hell are you?" has now run foul of the Canadian regulator.
But it's not the tagline that's the trouble this time as much as the opener: "I've bought you a beer".
Tourism Minister Fran Bailey said she had been told by Canadian authorities they could not accept that line.
"We now have the Canadian authorities not wanting us to use the opening segment of `I've bought you a beer'," Ms Bailey said in Melbourne.
"The Canadian regulator says that this implies consumption of unbranded alcohol.
"I have to say that I find this quite astonishing."
Ms Bailey clarified that it was not beer consumption itself that was causing the problem for the Canadians but the fact the beer was unbranded.
"That's some sort of quirky Canadian regulation," she said.
Ms Bailey said the regulator was not troubled by the ad's closing tagline which they found "warm and friendly and inviting".
Even so, the Canadian regulator would not allow the ad to be shown during a children's Easter program because of the final line.
However, the ad had never been scheduled to be shown then anyway, Ms Bailey said.
Ms Bailey said it was likely the opening sequence would be replaced with different but equally warm and friendly footage – not involving references to unbranded beer – to get around the problem.
Earlier today, Canadian Broadcasting Corp spokeswoman Ruth Soles told ABC Radio her network had imposed its own restrictions on the advertisement.
Ms Soles said the word "hell" might offend viewers who tune in to a particular family viewing timeslot.
Last week, Britain's advertising regulator objected to the word "bloody".
But they relented after Ms Bailey flew to the UK and lobbed on their doorstep to argue the case.
Ms Bailey said she had been told in London the controversy had itself generated "millions of pounds" worth of free publicity.
"As far as this particular Canadian regulator is concerned, I'd love him to come out here and I'll buy him a beer and say thank-you," she said.
Ms Bailey declined to say what sort of beer she would offer the Canadians.
The advertising campaign is due to be aired in Canada within the next month.
Even a banana bender has won gold at the winter olympics.
And exactly how amy of the Winter Olympic events had their origin in the Ancient Olympics?
Running, Swimming, Javelin, Shot Put. Wrestling, Weightlifting - warrior skills
Curling - Ice hockey arena janitor skills
I suspect that, medals winners or not, every one of your commonwealth games athletes are absolutely first rate. Looks to me like the support they get from other Canadians is what's third rate based on your comment.
Sure the Commonwealth games are fairly insignificant on the world stage but I doubt that there is one single Australian that would deride our athletes as you have done yours.
I didn't deride our athletes.
We sent our best 3rd string team. It's good training for
them - sorta like a good high school meet, but
we kept our best at home training for real competitions..
LOL
Must have kept your best at home for the 2004 Athens Olympics as well. You just nudged out Turkey for 21st place on the medal count with 3 Gold, 6 Silver & 3 Bronze.
Perhaps that not a big enough event for you either? Holding your best back for the next intergalactic games perhaps?
Those same "some" might also be prize wankers!
I had a go at the Poms last week. This week it's the Canadians being dopey...
Good question!!!!!!
The first bit is a new one on me. In my experience, "having a beer" invariably involves drinking beer. Nothing else.
"P*ss" is, however, a term used to describe grog.
Probably having a bad day watching the Commonwealth Games eh?
Australia: 57 golds, 51 silvers, 45 bronzes.
Canada: 14 golds, 22 silvers, 17 bronzes
LOL!!!! ROTFL!!!!
Strange how the "Globe and Mail" carries lead reports when Canada wins a gold medal. Then if cleanskin beer offends...
You'll have to do better than that!!!!!!!
You'll have to do better than that!!!!!!!"
They did send MS Baily and she lobbed on their doorstep.
And Ms Baily probably made her presence felt by having a pommy shower after her long flight from Australia!
At least you haven't suggested that she showed them the map of Tasmania!
To tell the truth, I didn't even know the Games were on until I read this thread.
To: NZerFromHK
Australia: 57 golds, 51 silvers, 45 bronzes.
Canada: 14 golds, 22 silvers, 17 bronzes.
For the life of me I don't see why you would want to bring up the Commonwealth Games....
New Zealand: 4 Golds, 5 Silver, 12 Bronze
Too bad sheep humping isn't an event
38 posted on 03/22/2006 4:16:07 PM PST by kanawa (Freaking panty wetting, weakspined bliss-ninny socialist punks)
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