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Article: NBC will air ads for hard liquor
- Article from:
- Post-Tribune (IN)
- Article date:
- December 14, 2001
- Author:
CopyrightCopyright (c) 2001 Post-Tribune. (Hide copyright information)
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THIS ELECTRONIC VERSION MAY DIFFER SLIGHTLY FROM PRINTED VERSION
NBC is breaking a longtime television taboo by becoming the first broadcast network to run hard liquor commercials.
The first hint of the policy change will come this weekend, when a public service message promoting designated driving sponsored by Smirnoff's vodka brand will appear during "Saturday Night Live."
Although beer and wine are advertised frequently on television, broadcasters have refused to hawk hard liquor for fear that they'll be seen as socially irresponsible.
The distilled spirits trade group didn't even bother making TV spots until 1996, when they began buying time on cable systems and at some local broadcast ...