A Federal Trade Commission attorney criticized a controversial Anheuser-Busch …marketing campaign that features Bud Light cans decorated with college-team colors, urging the brewer to drop any plans for similar promotions.
Janet Evans, a senior FTC attorney who oversees alcohol advertising, says the federal agency has “grave concern” that the campaign could encourage underage and binge drinking on college campuses. Dozens of schools have protested the promotion, with some threatening legal action over trademark issues.
“This does not appear to be responsible activity,” Ms. Evans said in an interview Monday. “We’re looking at this closely. We’ve talked to the company and expressed our concerns.”
… On Monday, Michael Van Wieren, legal counsel of Licensing Resource Group LLC, which represents 160 colleges and sports organizations, said a dozen of its members have complained to local beer distributors. Last week, Collegiate Licensing Co., which represents about 200 colleges and other sports organizations, said at least 25 schools formally told Anheuser-Busch to stop distributing the themed beer near their campuses, citing trademark issues and concern about student alcohol abuse…