Trade Descriptions Act
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The Trade Descriptions Act 1968 is a law in England and Wales which prevents manufacturers, retailers or service providers from misleading consumers as to what they are spending their money on.
As advertising became a crucial part of successful commercial enterprises and with fierce competition the temptation to push the boundaries of truth when making claims for a product is strong.
This law empowers the judiciary to punish companies or individuals who make false claims about the products or services that they sell.
The advertising industry has managed to circumvent this obstacle to some degree through creative associations of products with the things that people desire. For example, alcohol is still (in spite of British regulations forbidding this) routinely associated with sexual success, and certain makes of car with the sense that they identify you as an alpha male.
For examples of why such legislation is desirable see: patent medicine, snake oil.