from any kind of advertising, as well as from sponsoring sports and music events, had

many either cheering in support or crying foul from many corners of society and industry.

While the BMAs demands are unlikely to go further than the paper its report was

published on, it does highlight another on- going investigation being conducted in the area

of marketing communications.

The Digital Media Group is currently in discussions with a number of industry sectors to

determine whether the Advertising Standards Authority should widen its remit to oversee

the regulation of marcomms content on company websites.

For alcohol companies, the whipping boy of many lobbyists, there is a fear that there is not

enough being done to regulate the content they feature on their sites.

The alcohol industry body Portman Group argues that there is already strict controls on this

issue through its Code of Practice. While the ASA regulates all advertising complaints, the

Portman Group regulates all forms of drinks producer marketing activity, including

naming, packaging, sponsorship and websites.

Michael Thompson, Portman Group head of communications and external affairs says 70

products have been pulled from retailers shelves as a result of drinks companies failing to

comply with their rulings on such issues.

But is this enough? Do enough consumers know exactly where to go to lodge such

complaints? The ASA already regulates advertising, why not simply make it the one-stop

shop for all marcomms issues?