Ban slapped on ‘offensive’ ad for lads’ holiday

The photograph, which was displayed in the window of a men’s clothing shop, featured only the woman’s chest.

Another picture showed three girls posing provocatively for a camera. Text beneath it read: “START 2011 WITH A BANG!”.

The images sparked a host of complaints on the grounds they were offensive and “objectified women”.

Those who voiced concerns also felt the promotion was “inappropriately placed” in the Officers’ Club window where it could be seen by children.

The advertisement – stating “WIN A LADS HOLIDAY TO AYIA NAPA” – appeared in all the company’s UK stores.

The firm claimed it had received only a small number of objections which it said could be resolved by removing part of the imagery.

But the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) ruled the promotion could not appear again in the same form.

“We considered that the sole focus on the woman’s chest, in conjunction with the text “Awesome views”, was likely to be seen as gratuitous and to objectify women,” the regulator said.