WELLINGTON The body that oversees the advertising industry has thrown out complaints over a television commercial some viewers believed mocked the sacrament of Reconciliation. The advertisement, for Illicit Cola, showed a young man in a confessional saying: Father, Ive sinned. I'm seeing this girl, but I also want her sister.

A male face in the other side of the booth said: Dont be shy, my son; date them both.

This male is then revealed to be a minor radio and TV personality, who states the name of the drink and: Its good to be bad.

Complainant K. Shotter said the advertisement makes an abomination of the Catholic religion and has a priest telling a young man to do bad things.

I completely object to my children being exposed to this sort of advertising, in that it goes against everything that we teach our children, the complaint said.

Other complainants objected to the portrayal of a Catholic priest.

Advertiser Demon Drinks Ltd stated there is no law against dating more than one person at a time, and that the phrase its good to be bad is a lyric in popular songs and is widely used.

Great care was taken to make clear to viewers that it was not a priest in the confessional booth, the company said.

Nowhere in the ad do we imply an acceptance of illicit activities or condone any kind of illegal behaviour.

The Advertising Standards Complaints Board ruled the commercial contained obvious hyperbole and humour that would be recognised by viewers, thereby saving it from causing serious or widespread offence.

It was also prepared with a due sense of social responsibility, the ruling stated.