Comparison of Cigarette and Alcohol Advertising Controversies

The movement to curb the advertising of alcoholic beverages is growing and continuing to propose various methods of regulating or eliminating alcoholic beverage advertising. This outcry is similar to the movement to curb cigarette advertising which culminated in banning cigarette advertising from the broadcast media. This paper examines (1) the issues surrounding the ban on cigarette advertising and the implications of that decision, (2) the issues surrounding alcoholic beverage advertising, and (3) the implications of the cigarette advertising ban for alcoholic beverage advertising. Based upon the analysis, the final section describes consumer, industry, and government strategies for responding to the controversy.