The Release organisation’s advertisements with the slogan “nice people take drugs” are to be pulled from London buses where they have been on display since 1 June.
The Release campaign aims at provoking debate regarding the UK's drug policy.
“We ran this campaign because we were frustrated by the lack of serious engagement with this important policy issue, but are astounded that debate is even more stifled than we could ever have imagined,” Sebastian Saville, Release executive director, said.
Release claims CBS outdoor, the billboard advertising company that booked the advertisements, had originally approved the campaign’s slogan.
The about-turn by CBS was provoked, according to Release, by concerns expressed from the Committee of Advertising Practice (CAP) regarding the slogan’s possible interpretation. CBS said that the decision for the removal of the posters was taken “in line with recommendations from CAP”.
“This slogan is not controversial nor is it inaccurate and its removal demonstrates the extent to which we are so far removed from having a mature discussion about drugs,” Mr Saville said.
CAP denied direct involvement in the decision. “This was clearly a CBS decision. It has not been dictated by us. The company have maybe sought advice from us -which is confidential- on whether the advertisement may be problematic, but the advice we give is neither binding nor mandatory,” Matt Wilson, a CAP spokesman, said.
CBS has offered Release to put new advertisements in July. “We have asked Release to amend the copy to comply with CAP's advice regarding the messaging context and are aiming to run the campaign again later this year,” Sarah Kane, CBS spokesman, said.
Release is the national centre of expertise on drugs and drug law and runs a helpline service for drug users, the public and professionals.
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