Alcohol on T.V

[nightfly61]

Pardon my ignorance being a radio person, but I know in radio it's illegal to drink on the air, so when you see for example, Martha Stewart & people on the Today Show (or as far back as Julia Child getting lit like a Xmas tree) on the air getting sloshed, is there a penalty for that or does it just get "overlooked"? Cheers!

 

[BRNout]

I thought that you weren't allowed to drink "adult beverages" on TV! And, I haven't heard about Martha Stewart or the Today Show staff getting "sloshed" on the air. That's news to me!

Don't know how you'd get busted by the FCC for drinking on the radio - but you could get fired for it, that's for sure.

 

[fortmill]

I doubt very seriously that Martha Stewart or the staff of the Today Show has ever gotten "sloshed' on air. Previously, I believe the NAB or somesuch organization had a guideline that no one be shown drinking on TV. Obviously, that went by the wayside some years ago. Now, some characters of sitcoms drink almost continuously on camera, apparently in an effort to make them seem cool. On the other hand, you will NEVER see characters smoke on modern TV. There is no law to that effect, but anti-smoking groups and politicians have seen to it that smoking be abolished.

 

[KeithE4]

I doubt very seriously that Martha Stewart or the staff of the Today Show has ever gotten "sloshed' on air. Previously, I believe the NAB or somesuch organization had a guideline that no one be shown drinking on TV. Obviously, that went by the wayside some years ago.

Obviously some people have forgotten about the late, great Harry Caray, who not only was sloshed by the 7th (or was it the 3rd? ;D ) inning of the games he called, but during his White Sox TV broadcasts in the early/mid '70s, he actually downed a bottle of the sponsor's (I think it was Falstaff then) beer on-camera during the commercials between innings.

Now, some characters of sitcoms drink almost continuously on camera, apparently in an effort to make them seem cool.

But the actors aren't really drinking anything stronger than tea in those glasses of "booze."

 

[Kent]

Pardon my ignorance being a radio person, but I know in radio it's illegal to drink on the air,

Actually, I don't believe there is any law against drinking on-air unless your name is on the transmitter log. Every market where I've lived has had mornings shows get one member drunk around the holidays to try to encourage responsible drinking and to get people to know what the signs are of someone being drunk so they can stop their friends from driving. I believe it's also the station licensee, not the operator, who gets in trouble with the Commission if there is an "intoxicated operator."

so when you see for example, Martha Stewart & people on the Today Show (or as far back as Julia Child getting lit like a Xmas tree) on the air getting sloshed, is there a penalty for that or does it just get "overlooked"? Cheers!

I don't believe so. However, they're still responsible for anything they say on-air.

 

[jal41]

Re: Alcohol on TV

It is not illegal. If it were, many scripted television shows and most reality shows would not be in existance. There would be no movies on TV. It would all be kids programs and news.

I don't know about the legalities of intoxicated "operators". That would be the enginners, not the control room operators that would fall under such aspices (unless they are assigned to signing FCC paperwork). Regardless, I don't think any GM wants a drunk employee on the job for more reasons than you can imagine (including liability issues).

 

[mleach]

I thought that you weren't allowed to drink "adult beverages" on TV! And, I haven't heard about Martha Stewart or the Today Show staff getting "sloshed" on the air. That's news to me!

Don't know how you'd get busted by the FCC for drinking on the radio - but you could get fired for it, that's for sure.

For radio, it depends on the format, ownership and how "drunk" we are talking about. When I worked at a country music station every Wednesday night we did a live show from a local nightclub and every week the host of the show ( our PD BTW ) would often drink a few beers while doing the show and sometimes even bring back a few beers to the station for the staff. But no one got drunk.

Oddly at the same time my then girlfriend, her radio station had a rule in place that not only could she not drink any alcohol at the radio station she couldn't even be seen near the local liquor store. She worked at a religious radio station.

Drinking on TV, yeah like someone else said that rule has fallen by the wayside. Like the one rule I heard over the years reguarding children appearing on TV. A no-no unless they get the OK from a parent. Recently I saw a local TV station doing a news report from amusement park. Lots of kids were seen in that and I highly doubt the TV station got all of those kids parents OK to appear.

 

[nightfly61]

Pardon my ignorance being a radio person, but I know in radio it's illegal to drink on the air, so when you see for example, Martha Stewart & people on the Today Show (or as far back as Julia Child getting lit like a Xmas tree) on the air getting sloshed,

Okay. okay I'll just make it very simple: Hosting or being a guest on a show or acting in a film- is it legal to swig any form of real alcohol? I meant people like the late Julia Child (who really would get lit) and just recently on St. Pat's Day's episode of Martha Stewart she was pretty sweaty & stumbly in her delivery by the end of the show. Plus one night on Conan she was the guest & did 2 shots of Jack.
Guess I can't use Dean Martin as an example since I heard it was all an act & ginger ale in his martini glass(but when Jackie Gleason was on it was a different story). That's all I wondered. I know about the operator on duty on radio thing, not being able to drink.

 

[flashback]

I doubt very seriously that Martha Stewart or the staff of the Today Show has ever gotten "sloshed' on air. Previously, I believe the NAB or somesuch organization had a guideline that no one be shown drinking on TV. Obviously, that went by the wayside some years ago. Now, some characters of sitcoms drink almost continuously on camera, apparently in an effort to make them seem cool. On the other hand, you will NEVER see characters smoke on modern TV. There is no law to that effect, but anti-smoking groups and politicians have seen to it that smoking be abolished.

as far as the smoking goes, the only show I saw recently(the last 15 or so years) where the main characters smoked was the british series "absolutely fabulous".a comedy series about two women with no redeeming values.

if it was an american series you wouldn`t see it.

what was funny to me was rosanne arnold wanted to produce an american version of "absolutely fabulous" faithful to the british series. tobaco smoking , drinking alchol and occasional drug use and the network people had a fit. the answer was not no but hell no.

I guess if it is from england it is ok but if it is made in america it is a big no-no.

 

[bk77]

I doubt very seriously that Martha Stewart or the staff of the Today Show has ever gotten "sloshed' on air. Previously, I believe the NAB or somesuch organization had a guideline that no one be shown drinking on TV. Obviously, that went by the wayside some years ago. Now, some characters of sitcoms drink almost continuously on camera, apparently in an effort to make them seem cool. On the other hand, you will NEVER see characters smoke on modern TV. There is no law to that effect, but anti-smoking groups and politicians have seen to it that smoking be abolished.

as far as the smoking goes, the only show I saw recently(the last 15 or so years) where the main characters smoked was the british series "absolutely fabulous".a comedy series about two women with no redeeming values.

if it was an american series you wouldn`t see it.

what was funny to me was rosanne arnold wanted to produce an american version of "absolutely fabulous" faithful to the british series. tobaco smoking , drinking alchol and occasional drug use and the network people had a fit. the answer was not no but hell no.

I guess if it is from england it is ok but if it is made in america it is a big no-no.

I think it was Roseanne ( the sitcom ) which was the last American TV show to feature a character smoking a cigarette and ,well thats it. Not someone light up and getting a lecture on the evils of smoking. In the case of Roseanne it was the Jimmy character, the guy Darlene was dating after a split from her regular boyfriend David. of course in the 80s I believe Don Johnson was seen often puffing away on Miami Vice.

In the 90s cigar smoking I remember was seen off and on on TV but in recent years that too is a rare sight, chances are because of the problem of younger people using cigars to make blunts and of course the usual health hazzards.

Are cigarette ads still allowed to be shown on British TV? I know in many places in Asia they are, I have heard that some of Hollywood's biggest stars like Mel Gibson and Jodie Foster have done cigarette ads in places like Japan in recent years and according to a friend of mine she swears she saw the Backstreet Boys doing an ad for Marlboro Lights there as well.

 

[Kent]

Re: Alcohol on TV

I don't know about the legalities of intoxicated "operators". That would be the enginners, not the control room operators that would fall under such aspices (unless they are assigned to signing FCC paperwork). Regardless, I don't think any GM wants a drunk employee on the job for more reasons than you can imagine (including liability issues).

What I believe it comes down to with respect to "intoxicated operators" is that you're affirming you can operate the transmitter and EAS equipment when you sign the transmitter log. If you're intoxicated, you can't be expected to reliably operate the equipment. That is, therefore, an FCC violation. Of course, a lot of stations these days don't even use transmitter logs (they just keep the station log), and the FCC doesn't even require transmitter logs anymore from what I've been told. However, if you choose to keep transmitter logs, they still have to be accurate, as do the readings on the logs, regardless of whether or not they're required.

I also agree with you that most GM's and operators don't want drunks on-air for obvious reasons! However, it does happen occasionally, and it can be quite funny!

 

[KML0224]

The one obvious rule in the U.S. for alcohol: You will never see any person actually drink a beer or other alcohol in a typical TV commercial for beer or liquor. Also, on a semi-related note: an active NFL star is not allowed to do beer commercials. Notice how you saw John Elway doing the Coors commercials AFTER he retired?

 

[jal41]

For radio, it depends on the format, ownership and how "drunk" we are talking about. When I worked at a country music station every Wednesday night we did a live show from a local nightclub and every week the host of the show ( our PD BTW ) would often drink a few beers while doing the show and sometimes even bring back a few beers to the station for the staff. But no one got drunk.

Don't forget, many TV stations hold parties and events (both public and internal) where beer and wine are served. Wine and black-tie affairs seem to go hand-in-hand, and I don't see a TV station holding an event to honor it's new fall lineup without wine being served.

 

[nightfly61]

There was a recent episode of Scrubs with a dream sequence type scene that lasted like :05 with a couple laying in bed sharing a cigarette "afterwards".

 

[sack]

The one obvious rule in the U.S. for alcohol: You will never see any person actually drink a beer or other alcohol in a typical TV commercial for beer or liquor.

And thousands of years from now when archeologists unearth our society they will have no idea what beer was, they will see commercials and believe that just by holding, or being in the presence of this magic liquid, everyone becomes happy and beautiful. (usually beautiful after drinking a few beers, haha)

Honestly, one of the most absurd rules anyone has dreamed up. Hypocritical morality. Maybe someone can explain why there is this "prohibition" on drinking the product you are advertising.

 

[nightfly61]

I believe most places you can't advertise prices of alcohol on radio or t.v either. Plus you never see Meijer or Target (anywhere for that matter so it must be illegal) stores "Charmin Bath Tissue , one nineteen a four pack...Stokley Green Beans 5 cans for 5 dollars...12 Packs of Milwaukee's best Regular, Light, or Ice, only $5.99 a 12 pack".

 

[mleach]

I believe most places you can't advertise prices of alcohol on radio or t.v either. Plus you never see Meijer or Target (anywhere for that matter so it must be illegal) stores "Charmin Bath Tissue , one nineteen a four pack...Stokley Green Beans 5 cans for 5 dollars...12 Packs of Milwaukee's best Regular, Light, or Ice, only $5.99 a 12 pack".

Over the years I have heard many local radio ads for nightclubs saying " Bud Light....$2 A Bottle " Maybe its a state thing rather than national Much like ads for those so-called "gentlemens clubs". For years I heard they were illegal to advertise on the radio here in Virginia because it went against the state's broadcast "morals code" but according to the Virginia Association of Broadcasters, no such rule exist about that though as recently as 1990 they did have a rule that barred gay men/women from doing such ads on the radio or on TV nor could they be heard doing ads for beer, wine or nightclubs
within the commonwealth.

I have no idea how this could have been enforced.