December 29, 2009

Dear Sir,

Very seldom do I pay attention to TV commercials.

However, while watching the 7 PM evening news last night on ZBM TV, I was drawn to an advertisement sponsored by the Centre for Alcohol and Drug Abuse Prevention ("CADA").

Since I have always considered this TV slot to be within what has been widely regarded as "family viewing time", I was, to say the least, quite shocked by the video content of the commercial. Among other scenes, it showed a young man who had clearly urinated on himself; a young man who was making a sexual pass at a young woman; and a young woman who was exposing her thongs and those parts of her anatomy that envelope them.

Even though I can hardly be considered a prude, I found the CADA advertisement quite distasteful and inappropriate for airing during a time when young people would likely be watching TV.

I do not doubt that CADA's intentions are good. However, if other viewers were like me, they probably missed the message because they were too focused on the video content.

I therefore call on CADA to stop airing this commercial on local TV, or as a minimum, stop airing it during prime time or earlier.

AN AVERAGE JOE

Smith's