Durex is advertising its products this year by sending men out dressed as Santa Claus to hand out condoms to Toronto shoppers. Suresh Dominic of Campaign Life described the stunt as 'deeply saddening' and 'offensive in the extreme.'
I would go further than that, it is not only deeply offensive it could be harmful to innocent children in an age when we are supposed to be more aware than ever of the need to protect children. Santa Claus is a figure associated with childhood and whether or not these people are handing out condoms exclusively to adults, it is impossible to avoid the implications of Durex using a children's icon to promote sexual activity. Whilst I do not expect they will do so, Durex should cancel this tasteless and dangerous stunt immediately, to protect children if nothing else.
