12.49, 28 November 2008
The poster reads: ‘Santa only comes once a year… But that’s all it takes!’ A red and white suited gentleman is pictured in a compromising pose with a young lady. This isn’t a saucy seaside picture postcard for the festive season – it’s the latest morning after pill campaign from the British Pregnancy Advisory Service (BPAS).
In light of the fact that many pharmacies, family planning clinics and GP surgeries are closed over Christmas, women will be offered the emergency contraception for free from 1 December – just in case! BPAS hope this will curb the number of New Year abortions.
Accidents do happen – the condom can split, the regular contraceptive pill fails to work perhaps or you forget to take it and for these reasons, the campaign – albeit perhaps a little inappropriate in its imagery – is a good thing. But, and you knew there was going to be one, I can’t help feeling a tad uneasy. I’m not sure I would go as far as to say that it’ll promote unprotected sex, but it certainly could be seen as a back-up option. The fear of getting pregnant is greater than the fear of infection and yet the importance and the effects of the latter shouldn’t be undermined.
And will more women be pressured into having unprotected sex because of it? I so hope not, but it can’t be ruled out. And what about the role increased amounts of alcohol plays is all this? After all, it is the festive fun-filled season with parties at every turn.
Maybe the campaign should be more: ‘Think before you drink’?
You can read the full story on the
BBC website.
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