If you’ve ever noticed that beer commercials in the U.S. never show people actually drinking, you might assume there’s a law against it. But the truth is a little more interesting—there’s no federal regulation or broadcasting standard that forbids it. Instead, it’s the result of self-imposed industry guidelines, agreements between networks, and advertising codes of conduct. The Myth of a Legal Ban While many assume that showing alcohol consumption on national television is illegal, there’s no such rule on the books. The First Amendment protects commercial speech, including alcohol advertisements, as long as they are truthful and not misleading. However,… Read More »