12th ASA Consumer Conference - Bristol, 30 November

03 August 2006

The Watershed in Bristol, this year's chosen location for the ASA's Annual Consumer Conference.

The ASA is holding its annual consumer conference in Bristol on Thursday 30 November and is calling on all those with a view on advertising content to come along to the free event. Held at the Watershed Media Centre, attendees will be able to get an exclusive insight into how the self-regulatory system works, followed by a complimentary lunch with ASA representatives.

Consumer conferences are renowned for their fun, lively discussions and this year will be no exception with the raft of hot topics on the ASA's agenda at the moment. Advertising around food, gambling, religion, alcohol and marketing to kids often hits the headlines and will be up for debate throughout the day.

The morning's activities will begin with a welcome from the ASA's Chairman and Director General. They will explain how the complaints process operates and how the advertising rules are applied to each complaint case. Attendees will then be invited to take part in an interactive session, where they are asked to step into the shoes of ASA Council members and decide whether or not genuine complaints that have been made to the ASA should be upheld. Last year, groups discussed controversial ads from a pharmaceutical giant, a confectionary company and a travel brand. Hearing attendees' views on advertising is extremely valuable to the ASA, because it gives the Authority an opportunity to gauge public opinion, which will help guide our decision-making in the future.

The ASA hopes that people of all ages and walks of life will attend. Last year's event was a great success, with over 60 members of the public taking part to have their say. Feedback from the event was very positive, with one attendee saying they found it "very informative and interesting" and another commenting on the "relaxed, atmosphere" and "friendly discussions". In the past, sessions have proved particularly popular among religious groups, teachers, parents, community workers, local businesses and others representing consumer interests.
The conference will take place at the Watershed Media Centre in Bristol on Thursday 30th November. To find out more click here, call 020 7492 2222  or e-mail: events@asa.org.uk to book your place.