NEWS RELEASE
For More Information Contact: Robert Weissman (503) 235-8012
For Immediate Release: June 13th, 2007
Commercial Alert: Jack Daniels Should Stay Off TV
Jack Daniels should stay off TV.
According to the New York Times, the AMC cable network has announced a 13-week run, hour-long dramatic series. “Mad Men” is inextricably linked with its sponsor: Jack Daniels. The show, about the booming advertising industry in the 1960s, will prominently feature characters referring to the brand by name, displaying the signature bottle, and even drinking the whiskey in an irresponsible manner.
Jack Daniel’s national brand director told the New York Times, “we would like to convey the message of responsible consumption,” but a young executive drinks to excess at his bachelor party in the very first episode.
Alcohol abuse among teens and adults is a serious public health problem, resulting in more than 100,000 deaths every year in the United States, according to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. Alcohol consumption should not be promoted on television.
In June 1996, an industry-wide, voluntary ban on the televised marketing of hard liquor was broken by Seagrams. It’s past time for a mandatory ban.
But until then, television networks should not collude with alcohol marketers to hawk hard liquor. AMC should cancel “Mad Men” immediately.