'Want to know what sexy tastes like?' Racy vodka adverts are pulled for suggesting customers who drink it are better in bed
- Former reality star Nazanin Khanjani used her scantily-clad photos to sell a drink
- Ketonic Vokda, owned by Khanjani, put out a series of suggestive ads
- One of the promos on social media asked 'what does sexy taste like?'
- It was ruled that the social media ads used 'sex to sell an unrelated product'
A flavoured vodka maker owned by a reality TV star has been reprimanded for using scantily-clad photos of her to sell the drink as 'sexy'.
Ketonic Vodka, owned and promoted by former The Bachelor NZ contestant Nazanin 'Naz' Khanjani, was hauled before the Advertising Standards Authority.
The Kiwi company put out a series of suggestive promos on Facebook and Instagram, one of which asked 'what does sexy taste like?'
Complaints that followed were this week upheld on the grounds that the ads 'used sex to sell an unrelated product'.
An ad posted in December featured Khanjani wearing a miniskirt in a seductive pose against a wall advertising a taste testing session.
'Want to know what sexy taste like? You are all invited to our official taste testing! Come meet Naz and have a taste,' it read.
Ketonic Vodka, owned and promoted by former The Bachelor NZ contestant Nazanin 'Naz' Khanjani (pictured), was hauled before the Advertising Standards Authority
Others showed her in a sports bra with 'taste sexy' in the text and others in a swimsuit spruiking the product.
Complaints also took issue with the coconut water and vodka concoction being promoted as 'low carb' and 'low sugar'.
The ads implied drinking Ketonic Vodka would lead to health benefits and sexual and social success, according to a complainant.
Its website was also not age-restricted.
'The advertisements which were upheld use sex to sell an unrelated product and imply drinking Ketonic Vodka will make you socially successful by being 'the life of the party',' the Complaints Board said, upholding some of the complaints.
Ketonic Vodka put out a series of suggestive promos on Facebook and Instagram, one of which asked 'what does sexy taste like?' An ad posted in December featured Khanjani wearing a miniskirt in a seductive pose against a wall advertising a taste testing session. Others showed her in a sports bra with 'taste sexy' in the text and others showing her in a swimsuit spruiking the product
It ruled the sexual imagery and language referring to 'taste' was inappropriate and 'sexual imagery was being used to advertise an unrelated product'.
The Board agreed that customers would think 'a new sexy vodka drink was being promoted, that it is healthier than other drinks because it has fewer calories'.
Consumers might also confuse it with the low-carb high-fat 'ketogenic' fad diet.
Complaints also took issue with the coconut water and vodka concoction being promoted as 'low carb' and 'low sugar.' The Advertising Standards Authority agreed that customers would think 'a new sexy vodka drink was being promoted, that it is healthier than other drinks because it has fewer calories'
However, it ruled the promos didn't push alcohol as an attractive lifestyle choice or that it was necessary for social situations.
Some of the ads were deleted, but some including the 'want to know what sexy tastes like?' promo were still up on Facebook.
'The Complaints Board noted the Advertiser had made some changes to its advertising following this complaint,' the Board said.
'But had not responded to a subsequent letter from the ASA requesting comment on whether the advertisements complied with Rule 1 (c) Decency and Offensiveness of the Advertising Standards Code.'
Khanjani appeared to take the ruling on an 'any publicity is good publicity' basis, bizarrely thanking both the Board and complainer in a Facebook post
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Khanjani appeared to take the ruling on an 'any publicity is good publicity' basis, bizarrely thanking both the Board and complainer in a Facebook post.
'We appreciate your time and feedback that has enabled our team to grow even more now with a few minor tweaks and changes made, so again, THANK YOU,' she wrote.
'With any new business, especially awesome ones that are popular and successful, these things are expected #mydrinkisbetterthanyourdrink lol.'
Khanjani continued to spruik the supposed health benefits of Ketonic Vodka in the comments to her post. When launching the drink in December, she claimed it would help balance the 'social bunny' and a 'fitness bunny' parts of her persona.
Khanjani continued to spruik the supposed health benefits of Ketonic Vodka in the comments to her post.
'I can literally have like 20 and not feel hungover the next day. It's such an amazing drink!' she said.
When launching the drink in December, she claimed it would help balance the 'social bunny' and a 'fitness bunny' parts of her persona.
'I'd always have that guilty feeling of drinking too much, even vodka and soda with fresh lime,' she told Newshub.
By contrast, she claimed Ketonic Vodka 'doesn't give you that bloated feeling - it's literally a detox as you're drinking'.
'The best way to describe the taste is 'sexy'; you just want to drink more and more,' she added.
'You can't even taste the alcohol. It's really hard to find something out there that's good for you with alcohol in it [and] tastes amazing.'
Khanjani's company settled with the Advertising Standards Authority with undisclosed terms.
