The United Kingdom’s Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) recently censured a gaming firm named Happy Tiger Bingo for showcasing a male individual who appeared to be under the age of 25 in one of their televised advertisements. The promotional spot, which displayed the man recounting his favorable encounter with Happy Tiger Bingo while the term “postgraduate” briefly appeared on the screen, ignited apprehension that the enterprise was not treating the UK’s “Challenge 25” protocol with due seriousness.
“Challenge 25” constitutes a broadly enforced regulation within the UK that mandates any person seemingly below 25 years of age to furnish valid photographic identification confirming they meet the legal age threshold for procuring age-restricted products such as alcoholic beverages or engaging in wagering activities. This protocol is particularly widespread in public houses, gambling establishments, and other venues where the minimum age stipulation is 18 years or older.
The ASA contended that the man’s youthful visage, combined with his somewhat uneasy deportment on film and his utilization of filler expressions like “obviously,” “like,” and “so,” pointedly implied he might be under 25. By failing to guarantee he was fittingly “challenged” to substantiate his age, Happy Tiger Bingo was determined to be in violation of the advertising code.
The UKs advertising regulatory body reprimanded Happy Tiger Bingo for featuring a model in one of their promotions who appeared overly youthful. Despite the company’s attempts to verify the model’s age with documentation like a birth certificate, the ASA remained unconvinced. Essentially, they argued that regardless of the provided proof, the typical viewer would not be persuaded.
Consequently, the advertisement was pulled, and Happy Tiger Bingo received a directive to ensure all future campaigns exclusively utilize models aged 25 and above. This experience likely served as a valuable lesson for them regarding the use of models with youthful appearances!