Lisa Ebenal’s concerns about liquor ads on transit vehicles are well taken (“Take a sober second look at alcohol ads,” Leader letters, Aug. 21), and in fact, TransLink had a policy to prohibit certain types of ads, including those for alcohol.
However, the Supreme Court of Canada ruled a few years ago that TransLink may not refuse ads if they are permitted under the code of Advertising Standards Canada (ASC). TransLink may only restrict ads that are immoral, do not meet contemporary community standards, or are illegal (eg.- cigarette advertising).
We recently asked the ASC to review again the ads in question. The ASC concluded that the ads did not contravene the ASC or the Canadian Radio-Television Commission codes.
We also reviewed our own policy on liquor advertising and confirmed that, so long as the ads meet the current measures, standards and limitations by which advertising is judged, we may not refuse them.
Drew Snider
TransLink Public Information Officer
