CNN and NASCAR All Liquored Up

CNN has announced it will begin accepting ads for hard liquor, long a taboo on broadcast television. Apparently because they are a cable network, they can get away with it. Rush Limbaugh suggested that CNN wants its audience all liquored up so they won't pay attention to what they're reporting. He could be right.

Hard liquor has also moved into NASCAR this year. Although beer companies have long been primary sponsors in NASCAR, distilled spirits manufacturers were banned from sponsoring cars in the past and had been turned down several times. However, with the increasing pressure of high costs and fewer companies able or willing to pay $15-$18 million a year to sponsor a car, NASCAR has relented and this year several cars have hard liquor sponsorships. I'm not sure hard liquor and fast cars are a good combination, but supposedly the spirits companies have promised "responsible" advertising.

My guess is it will only be a matter of time before hard liquor ads will be found throughout the broadcast spectrum.