(Boston) The MBTA Bans Alcohol Ads & Loses $1.5M in Revenue
The MBTA Bans Alcohol Ads & Loses $1.5M in Revenue
Apparently, the MBTA isn’t as excited about Boston’s “Drunkest City in America” ranking as we are. According to the Boston Globe, the MBTA will put a ban on all alcohol ads on any MBTA properties beginning July 1, 2012. The ban is a win for advocates behind proposed legislation that aims to ban alcohol advertising on all state property.
As if we’d expect anything less from such a Puritan state like Massachusetts, the MBTA has already banned tobacco, firearms, violence and nudity in ads on its property. But surprisingly, the MBTA is one of the last public transit systems in the nation to ban alcohol ads; the only two that allow alcohol ads are New York and Chicago.
The kicker? Titan, the MBTA’s advertising contractor estimates a $1.5 million loss of ad revenue during the first year of the alcohol ad ban. Yes, $1.5 million.
Now, I’m all for curbing underage drinking, but with the agency facing a staggering $161 million deficit and threatening massive fare hikes and service cuts, why would they want to cut advertising dollars? It’s not like the ads are for prostitution and crack cocaine – they’re advertising alcohol, which can be found about five steps from every T stop anyways. Not to mention, I find the ads with sad, caged pigs telling me to stop eating meat much more offensive than the Tanqueray ads featuring suave-looking dudes having a fun time.
http://bostinno.com/2012/01/25/seriously-the-mbta-bans-alcohol-ads-loses-1-5m-in-revenue/
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