Advertising of Hard Liquor on TV in The United States

2440 Words5 Pages

What Are The History, Laws, Profitability, and Responsibilities To The Consumer
Of Advertising Hard Liquor on TV In The United States?

INTRODUCTION

Purpose

The goal of this report is to inform the reader of the recent events that prompted hard liquor advertising on TV. In addition, the laws associated with advertising across this media, as well as recent legislative endeavors to control such advertising. Furthermore, the report also focuses on the potential profitability the distilled spirit's industry will gain from advertising across this media and the industries social responsibilities to the consumer.

Sources and Methods

Research for this report is gathered mainly from information found on the World
Wide Web. Some information was gained through newspaper articles obtained by using the InfoTrac system in the Ruth Scarborough Library on the Shepherd
College Campus. Refer to the bibliography for specific information references.

History

Research by the Distilled Spirits Council of the United States (DISCUS) found that 30 to 50 percent of Americans think that distilled spirits are being advertised on TV. Since Prohibition the hard liquor industry voluntarily agreed not to advertise their products, first on radio in 1936, and of TV in 1948.
However, the industry is being faced with declining sales. Their competitors such as the beer and wine industries have grown. The sales of beer and wine have increased dramatically, leaving the hard liquor industry behind. The main reason for this occurrence is due to the fact that these industries have tapped into the resource of advertising on TV.

Consequently, this has prompted the hard liquor industry to reevaluate its current marketing situation. The first company to take the leap to TV is
Seagram. The Seagram company began advertising 30-second Crown Royal whiskey commercials in Corpus Christi, Texas.

Definitions

The words "distilled spirit" is used throughout this report. Distilled spirits and hard liquor in this report have the same meaning. Distill means to let fall, exude, or precipitate in drops or in a wet mist according to Webster's
Dictionary. Hard liquor is the end result of this process using the appropriate ingredients. Distilled spirit is any alcoholic beverage not defined as beer or wine.

Laws

Constitutional

The right to advertise is constitutionally protected commercial free speec...

... middle of paper ...

...House Of Representatives. "Sensible Advertising and Family Education Act."
Online. Http://rs9.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/1?c104:./temp/~c104H0mc!e817:.

I. INTRODUCTION ...................................... 1
A. Purpose ..................................... 1
Sources and Methods .................................1
History .............................................1
Definitions .........................................2
LAWS ................................................2
Constitutional ......................................2
Federal Regulations .................................2
104th Congress Bills ................................3
PROFITABILITY .......................................3
A. Target Market ................................4
Corporate Profits ...................................5
C. Media Profits ................................5
SOCIAL RESPONSABILITY ...............................5
DISCUS Code of Good Practice ........................5
Public Education ....................................6
Parental Guidance ...................................6
CONCLUSION ..........................................6

VI. BIBLIOGRAPHY ....................................ii

d

Open Document