Court reviewing Va. college booze ad ban

Posted to: Education News Virginia
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The Associated Press
© October 29, 2009

By Larry O'Dell

RICHMOND

Virginia's ban on alcohol-related advertising in college newspapers is before a federal appeals court in Richmond.

A three-judge panel of the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals hears oral arguments in the case today.

The student newspapers at the University of Virginia and Virginia Tech sued the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control in 2007, claiming the ban violates their constitutional right to free speech and hurts their ability to make money.

Magistrate Judge M. Hannah Lauck overturned the ban last year. She said there was no evidence the ban accomplished the ABC board's goal of curbing underage drinking. The attorney general's office appealed her ruling.

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Lawmaker idiots

Submitted by seitzjus on Thu, 10/29/2009 at 12:55 pm.

So wait do these alcoholic beverage companies still pay taxes. I think as long as they pay the same taxes as others then the state shouldn't be able to discriminate against them. NOTHING is going to curb underage drinking. And I think if there was anytime in my life to drink it should be college. I can't think of another time in my life where I always walked to parties where I was going to drink. I was at the height of my drinking responsibility without even trying.

What made underage drinking EXPONENTIALLY worse???

Submitted by HM on Thu, 10/29/2009 at 11:48 am.

Raising the legal drinking age to 21. That is INSANE--it should be lowered to 18. You can vote at 18, join the military on your own at 18--you're of legal age at 18. That should be the legal drinking age--again. Even if it's just "3.2" beer--that would stop some of the over-drinking we now see--which was started by the ban. The ban actually has made drunk driving worse rather than reducing it.

Who Cares

Submitted by bt73510 on Thu, 10/29/2009 at 8:45 am.

Newspapers are an advertising Medium of the past. Don't remeber the last time I saw a bunch of kids rushing to the newspaper stands. Stop wasting valuable Court time and MOVE ON. I can't wait for Happy Hour Tonight! :)