ASAS calls out Pussy energy drink advertiser for advertising code breach

A new energy drink in the market named Pussy has come under scrutiny from the Advertising Standard Authority of Singapore, otherwise known as ASAS.The drink which was launched earlier this month had a standee featuring its ambassador along with the words "I've tasted Pussy. Have you?"According to its Facebook posts, these standees are located in various places where the drinks are being sold or given away as samples. To hype up the launch of the drink, along with the promotional board, Pussy energy drink Singapore also launched a contest where if consumers who took a selfie with the standee could win a 24-can carton of the drink, t-shirts, caps, and other souvenirs.However, the brand has now come under scrutiny of ASAS.In a statement given to Marketing, Prof Tan Sze Wee, chairman of ASAS said that the council received three feedback from members of the public to date and as such reviewed the Pussy carbonated energy drink advertisement."The council has found that consumers would recognise the dual meaning of the term 'pussy'”, Tan said.“While the traditional meaning denotes a feline, the Council considered the structure of the slogan and is of the view that it made reference to the colloquial meaning of the term, denoting the female genitals, which some may consider sexually explicit,” he added.Hence, the council concluded that the advertisement has breached the "Decency" guideline in the Singapore Code of Advertising Practice. This guideline states that "advertisements should not contain anything that is offensive to the standards of decency prevailing among those who are likely to be exposed to them."He added that ASAS has informed the advertiser of its decision and requested them to cease using the advertisement in its current form.Marketing has reached out to Pussy energy drink Singapore for a statement.UPDATE: A spokesperson from Pussy added that the digital campaign will carry on. It has replied to ASAS with the following line,  “Well noted with thanks and explained the 52 week campaign, where the bubble messages to the public on that standee is changed weekly and never repeated."