Travel firm’s ad called ‘irresponsible and offensive’

A travel firm offering trips and excursions has been slammed by the Advertising Standards Authority for an ‘irresponsible and offensive’ advert.

Stoke Travel, which is registered in Spain, works with travel agents across Europe providing festival and surf experiences for predominantly students and backpackers.

The advertising watchdog received complaints after a press advert by Stoke Travel in TNT Magazine said: "All inclusive festival with booze for £40 Oktoberfest because drunk girls root more, and drunk guys don’t blow so quickly."

Those complaining said that the advert was irresponsible, offensive, presented women as sexual objects and linked sexual activity with alcohol consumption.

The ASA upheld the complaints and said: "We considered readers were likely to interpret the claim "… drunk girls root more" to mean that drunk girls had more sex, or were easier to engage in sexual activity.

"We considered this message was communicated in a direct and casual manner that was likely to be interpreted as condoning or encouraging excessive drinking for the purpose of having sex and, in the context of presenting women as sexual objects, was irresponsible and likely to cause serious or widespread offence to readers of the magazine."

Stoke Travel apologised that they had caused offence and provided their assurance that the ad would not be published again in future.

By Diane Evans