The Committee of Advertising Practice (CAP) is a British organisation responsible for the UK Code of Non-Broadcast Advertising, Sales Promotion and Direct Marketing, which is the main code of practice for self-regulation of the non-broadcast advertising industry in the UK. It is the sister organisation of, and is administered by, the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA). Role and responsibilities The CAP, alongside ASA, is primarily responsible for the constant revising and updating of the UK Code of Non-Broadcast Advertising, Direct Marketing, and Sales Promotion (CAP Code). CAP also provides training and advice for advertisers to help them understand the Code, including offering free advice to companies on whether their ad copy is likely to meet the Code requirements. Broadcast advertising is explicitly not within the remit of the CAP; instead, advertisements that are broadcast on television or radio are regulated by the Broadcast Committee of Advertising Practice and their separate standards. Industries under particular focus for CAP in terms of rules and guidelines for advertising include alcohol and gambling. Though some of the advertising rules are legally enforceable, the majority are self-regulatory and based on the commitment of involved stakeholders following best practice. The committee has no statutory or common law powers in the UK; despite this fact, courts have found that CAP decisions are subject to the judicial review process, in the same way as they would be were it to be the case that CAP was a government body. The CAP Code is, however, not considered to be covered by competition law in the United Kingdom. Whilst the committee itself is composed of members from advertisers and the media, its operations are overseen by the ASA's Governing Council, at least half of whose members are not linked to the advertising industry. This council is able to overturn the decisions that CAP makes, if it decides that it would be appropriate to do so. History Foundation Work on a voluntary code to regulate advertising in the UK began with the Advertising Association (AA) in 1960, following the advent of commercial television in the country, which was at the time an incredibly controversial concept. Amid the controversy, and fearing the potential for government regulation akin to that of the Federal Communications Commission in the United States, the AA created the committee in 1961, aiming to ensure that non-broadcast advertisements were "honest, decent, legal and truthful". Over time, its role became more