UK rules beer ad 'offensive' to Polish community

Image: Spitfire Ale

The advertisement for Spitfire Ale features popular comedy duo Armstrong and Miller, who play Royal Air Force (RAF) characters from the Second World War.

Speaking in street slang, one of the RAF men, played by Alexander Armstrong, approaches an apparently Polish general.

“Listen blud, is you like one of them geezers that’s like a Pole from Poland or Russia or something place like that?” the RAF man asks.

The Polish character responds: “I am General Vladimir Zhigorski, Supreme Commander in Chief of free Polish forces, yes.”

Armstrong’s character responds: “Only my nan’s patio needs doing and I thought we could do, like, a deal for cash?”

The risk of offending Polish pride over the country's contribution to the Battle of Britain, and of pigeon-holing recent immigrants as builders, appears to have swayed the decision by the UK's ClearCast clearance body.

However, Spitfire Ale has expressed surprise at the decision, arguing that “the butt of the joke is quite clearly the comedy duo and their reliance on absurd caricatures,” as quoted by advertising news source Marketing Week.

At least a million Poles are estimated to have emigrated to the UK since Poland joined the EU in 2004, many taking menial jobs.

During the Second World War, the RAF's 303 squadron, which was principally composed of Polish pilots, shot down more Luftwaffe planes than any other squadron. (nh)

Source: Marketing Week