TV/MEDIA INSIDER
NCAA should pull plug on beer ads
COMMENT: How should the NCAA handle beer ads during its events?
Friday, April 11, 2008
Maybe quarterback Matt Leinart watched too many NCAA basketball games on television and was lured into that recent hot tub-beer bong night by commercials.
OK, so that wasn't the cause. But colleges are becoming concerned about the use of more and more beer commercials during championship events, given the abuse of alcohol on campus. It's the same thing that should be bothering NFL ownership, but apparently isn't.
Extras
Get latest headlines via RSS feedsHere are some recent figures from several studies: 1,700 college-age students (18-24) die each year from alcohol-related incidents (including drunk driving). Nearly 600,000 are unintentionally injured due to alcohol. Nearly 700,000 are assaulted; nearly 100,000 sexually abused (including date rape).
"If aspirin were killing college students," former North Carolina basketball coach Dean Smith said in 2003, "how long do you think chancellors and presidents would allow ads for aspirin during telecasts?"
A couple of days ago, 100 or so colleges petitioned the NCAA, complaining of too many beer commercials during the recent tournament. Spot on. If you've got substance-abuse problems on your campus, why would you want to promote the products that cause it, especially when many of the viewers are students?
At the same time the NCAA will not allow beer sales at championship venues, it allows CBS and other broadcast partners to sell as many beer ads as they can, despite an agreement that limits beer advertising to 60 seconds per hour and no more than 120 seconds per telecast at the Final Four.
A watch group counted 440 seconds of advertising for Saturday's two semifinal games and 270 seconds for Monday's final, well over the Breathalyzer limits.
Make fun if you want. One fan (of the games or the drinks), posted this e-mail this week:
"Yeah! NCAA should pull the beer ads to leave more room for ads for Ambien, Paxil, Viagra, FLOMAX, and gas-guzzling, earth-destroying trucks!!"
It's the old, "you think this is bad, well, look at this" theory.
There is precedent for turning down advertising, as The Masters does.
In 2003, the NCAA also made a stand, nixing Miller's ad featuring two well-endowed women in a fight.
"There has to be some sense of decorum in commercials," NCAA president Myles Brand said at the time.
There has to be a stand made on what the NCAA promotes, too.
Contact this reporter at (937) 225-2157 or mkatz@DaytonDailyNews.com.
Comments
By texasfan
April 12, 2008 12:01 AM | Link to this
What a waste of time story. This guy needs to get a life, why do some people think they have to “save” everyone from everything? For crying out loud it’s just an ad…there are much more important issues in sports than beer ads.
By John Doe
April 11, 2008 10:01 PM | Link to this
I don’t want you in my life.
By John Doe
April 11, 2008 10:01 PM | Link to this
I don’t want you in my life.
By Big Brother
April 11, 2008 12:50 PM | Link to this
their classrooms. Please tell me someone else can’t see things turning out ugly in 10 or 20 years
By Big Brother
April 11, 2008 12:48 PM | Link to this
Can anyone not see that Big Brother is becoming more and more involved in our lives? Granted this is the NCAA imposing these “limits” on beer ads, but it’s becoming more apparent of late. For example, this new Jared’s law that just went into effect. Jared was a kid who was killed when a lunch table collapsed onto him. Not degrading him in any sort of way, but they passed a law in his honor putting more restrictions in school. For instance, teachers can no longer have bottled waters in
By Big Brother
April 11, 2008 12:47 PM | Link to this
Can anyone not see that Big Brother is becoming more and more involved in our lives? Granted this is the NCAA imposing these “limits” on beer ads, but it’s becoming more apparent of late. For example, this new Jared’s law that just went into effect. Jared was a kid who was killed when a lunch table collapsed onto him. Not degrading him in any sort of way, but they passed a law in his honor putting more restrictions in school. For instance, teachers can no longer have bottled waters in
By Scott
April 11, 2008 12:19 PM | Link to this
So I was sitting there watching the game thinking to myself that something was missing. Then a beer commercial came on. As the lightbulb went off in my head, I ran to the fridge to grab a beer. I drank it and got another and another and another. A case later, I started on the booze. Once that was gone, I smoked a little weed. I moved on the coke and then heroin. After they were gone, I had to drive to find some crack. NCAA is a gateway drug (sarcasism). Love, me from rehab.
By John
April 11, 2008 11:38 AM | Link to this
This is waste of a story. No one (including and especially college students) cares about beer commercials. Cutting ad’s will not matter one bit. If you’ll recall when we were in college most likely you had a beer or two in the parking lot before you went into the game. Kids are going to drink with or without the commercials. This article is pretty weak. But at least the posts are worth while.
By Earl
April 11, 2008 11:16 AM | Link to this
If anyone, including college presidents thinks that these ads being pulled will curtail drinking they are crazy. How about using the beer ads for purpose? Have some testimonials from those who have seen people killed by drunk drivers, binge drinking, etc. have a responsible drinking message as part of the ads.
The ads are not the problem….they can be used wisely to send a strong message. The beer companies would comply…..believe me.
By BCRez
April 11, 2008 10:32 AM | Link to this
I agree. Dumb story. If college kids are killing themselves binge drinking it has NOTHING to do with beer ads on TV.
By Wolverine
April 11, 2008 10:13 AM | Link to this
What a waste of my time reading this story. Marc, do you ever have a beer? Did you drink in college? It’s tiring to hear every journalist hop on board these boring stories. Please stick to writing about sports…a topic the DDN doesn’t even seem to actually like. Maybe then I can find a story about the Reds before the third page.