The American Association of Advertising Agencies (4As) hailed a
recent U.S. Supreme Court decision as a victory for First Amendment-
protected advertising. The May 13 decision declared unconstitutional
a Rhode Island law prohibiting off-premises advertising of liquor
prices.
"In their opinion, the Court declared that blanket bans on
commercial speech are invalid unless the speech is false or
misleading," said Hal Shoup, executive vice president of the 4As and
head of the 4As' Washington office. "We couldn't have asked the Court
to articulate a more definite rebuttal to broad advertising bans," he
said.
Shoup believes the decision indicates that other limits on
advertising--such as proposed regulations on tobacco advertising by
the Food and Drug Administration--will be thrown out on First
Amendment (freedom of speech) grounds. (4As, 202331-7345)