Liquor ad under teen anti-drinking billboard sparks outrage

DOUGLAS COUNTY, Ga. — The placement of a billboard promoting a liquor brand sparked controversy in Douglasville.

The ad promoting a Crown Royal whiskey was put right below a public service announcement against underage drinking.

“It is a blatant in-your-face challenge to the Live Healthy Douglas campaign,” said Wes Tallon, a spokesman for Douglas County. Tallon sent Channel 2 Action News an email with his statement and a picture of the billboards Friday.  The Crown Royal ad was removed on Saturday.

“I don’t see why they would do that,” said Douglas County resident Jasmine Charlton.  “When you put that [liquor ad] under it [PSA], it’s like you were provoking it.”

A spokesperson for Diageo, the alcohol company, sent Channel 2 a statement saying in part, “Obviously the placement of these billboards on top of one another is not appropriate and was never our intention.”  The statement goes on to say, “We only want adults of legal drinking age consuming our products and would never want to undermine a message that discourages underage drinking.  We applaud Douglas County for their efforts to curb underage drinking.  It’s a mission we share.”

Meanwhile, the billboard company CBS Outdoor said the placement was a mistake.

The ad was removed within 24 hours after the company was notified of the error.

WSBTV