Advertising your products is a big part of being able to sell your product. Making the buying public aware of what you're selling makes them more likely to buy your particular product versus that of your competitor. Some products, however, are limited in how they can be advertised. Two of those products are tobacco and alcohol.
In the days before there were warning labels on cigarettes, tobacco was marketed alongside milk and eggs. Print, radio, and the new medium of television were all venues for tobacco to be shown to the public in an effort to get them to buy one brand of smokes over another. That all changed though.
Advertising
What was once advertised everywhere is now limited in where it can be marketed. While tobacco can still be advertised in print, cigarette ads on television are no longer allowed. Also, the ways in which tobacco is advertised are closely monitored as for years the industry was known to be advertising to children through the use of cartoon mascots that would appeal to underage users.
Alcohol, on the other hand, is able to advertise in every medium, with commercials for different beer, liquor, and wine prominent during sporting events and prime time television programming. During the sporting events it's no surprise since at least one beer company is the official sponsor of either a team or a sport.
Alcohol as a whole, no matter the medium, seems to be marketing a lifestyle which is only attainable with their product. Tequila and rum companies would have you believe that their products create parties all around them, while several beer companies imply that drinking their brand will have beautiful women and perfect weather surround you as soon as you crack one open.
It will be interesting to see as the years move forward if alcohol begins to have to live under the same restrictions as tobacco has been for years. Until alcohol and alcohol consumption has the same stigma attached to it as chain-smoking and tobacco use, it's a fair assumption that alcohol won't be restricted in the way it can market itself in the same way that tobacco is.
No matter what restrictions are placed on the product, it's still up to the consumer to make informed decisions and to make sure they monitor their consumption of controlled substances for both their legal and physical well-being. While the tobacco industry seems to be fighting tooth and nail to prevent having warnings attached to their product, the alcohol industry regularly features commercials showing the downside to over indulgence in their product.
Advertising: Alcohol Vs Tobacco
Aiden Owens has dealt with his own addiction problems, including a gambling addiction that lead him to Williamsville Wellnes, a leading Virginia alcoholism treatment center. To learn more, visit Williamsville Wellness online at: WilliamsvilleWellness.com.