No More Alcohol Advertising
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
Alcohol advertising will be banned in Virginia’s college newspapers. By not promoting alcohol in student newspapers the Virginia's Alcoholic Beverage Control Board hopes to reduce under- age drinking. Controversy has been sparked over the ban, and whether it is unconstitutional for commercial freedom of speech. University of Virginia and Virginia Tech’s student newspapers deemed the ban unconstitutional. The papers said students’ images of drinking and alcohol in the media are readily accessible; therefore the ban is ineffective. On Friday, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit ruled that this ban does not violate First Amendment rights. No longer can a print or online advertisement say, "'happy hour' or similar terms." Liquor, beer, and wine, "unless in reference to a dining establishment," even then prices and brands can not be mentioned specifically.
