Barney the Dinosaur
An advert by a bar in the UK that showed Barney the dinosaur alongside the phrase “T-wrecked” has been banned for encouraging irresponsible and under-age drinking.
The paid-for post by Mojo bar in Manchester appeared on Meta in May. It featured the purple children’s TV character with the text: “One tequila, two tequila, three tequila, floor — Barney.”
The UK’s Advertising Standards Authority ruled that while the ad was designed to be humorous, it “encouraged excessive drinking” and was likely to appeal to under-18s.
The post, it said, was intended as ‘an amusing cautionary tale’
In its response, the Mojo bar denied any wrongdoing. The company argued that its online audience was restricted to adults — and that the image of Barney (inset below) would resonate with those who grew up watching the 1980s and 1990s children’s show.
Barney the Dinosaur
Today’s News in 90 Seconds – September 28th
The post, it said, was intended as “an amusing cautionary tale” and a way of sparking light-hearted discussion among customers, not encouraging alcohol misuse.
“We are resolute in our belief that we made no attempt to encourage under-age consumption of alcohol nor its consumption in excess,” the firm said.
However, the regulator found that Barney’s bright colours and playful appearance were likely to appeal to children. It also noted that the ad was displayed on a platform where users self-declare their age without verification, and no extra measures had been taken to stop under-18s seeing it.
The regulator said the ad must not appear again “in the form complained of”.