Answers to letters to Labatt Breweries

By: American Decency Staff

Answers to letters to Labatt Breweries The following is a string of letters that came as a result of one person who faithfully wrote to both the advertiser that created a concerning advertisement and by a local television station that aired this troubling ad.We are thankful to this person for writing and sharing the fruit of his labors (and the fruit of others of you as well.) Thank you to the many of you who "keep on keepin' on"! The letter to Labatt Breweries While watching one of ABC's shows, we saw your commercial. Sadly, little surprises us in the lengths to which some companies will go to shock, gain attention and notoriety in order to sell their products with no concern for the degrading filth they spew. We have seen companies use sexual innuendo and blatant eroticism in their ads. We've seen crude language and homosexual themes. However, this most recent concerning ad for LaBatt Blue beer crossed a line we haven't yet seen in corporate advertising. The ad features a talking deer that spews forth obscenities. The deer uses the f-word, partially bleeped, but very obvious as to the word spoken. Listeners' minds automatically fill in the bleeped word. W.S. First response from Labatt Breweries Customer Service I want to thank you for taking the time to voice your concern about the advertisement you saw. We do take feedback in this regard very seriously and, have passed it along to the proper people. Your comments allow us to evaluate our efforts and are always welcome. Cheers, Dianne Labatt Customer Service [Editor's note: At this point, upon receiving this email the tendency is to think "Here we go again. Yada yada …"] SECOND RESPONSE FROM LABATT BREWERIES Thank you for contacting Labatt Breweries Warren. We appreciate you taking the time to share your thoughts about the Labatt Blue TV advertisement. While we realize not all advertisements will appeal to everyone, we truly regret this TV spot offended you. That was certainly not our intention. We have now moved the TV spot so that it will only air post 10 p.m., a time-slot in which broadcasters typically air programming deemed appropriate for more mature audiences. We thank you for sharing your thoughts with us. We take the concerns of the public seriously, and will keep your comments in mind as we develop future advertising. Cheers, Nicole Labatt Breweries [Editor's note: True. It doesn't go far enough. It should never have been produced and it should be pulled totally from airing. However, as a result of the letter writing, it did result in change.] RESPONSE FROM A LOCAL TELEVISION STATION THAT AIRED THE LABATT ADVERTISEMENT Thank you for bringing this commercial to my attention. Our Vice President/General Sales Manager, Kim Krause, is tracking down the commercial and will respond to your email once she has reviewed it. Janet Mason WZZM 13 SECOND RESPONSE FROM A LOCAL TELEVISION STATION THAT AIRED THE LABATT ADVERTISEMENT Dear Mr. S…, Thank you for bringing the indiscretion of a Labatts commercial to our attention. It is true that we missed the inappropriate content in the final lines of the commercial. Labatts has a schedule of two commercials airing. Both are very similar in content and in the first commercial the deer simply says"…you've got that right." Unfortunately, in the 2nd commercial the deer makes the indiscretion you have noted. Nevertheless, the spot has been pulled immediately and we have notified their advertising agency that we intend to monitor future Labatts commercials more closely. We do welcome your comments regarding our programming and are very sorry for this oversight. I assure you WZZM will work even harder to earn your respect. Sincerely, Kim Krause VP/ GSM WZZM 13 645 3 Mile Rd. NW Grand Rapids, MI 49544 616-559-1392 To contact Kim Krause and WZZM expressing appreciation: kkrause@wzzm.gannett.comd or mailto:EMAILADDRESS@wzzm.gannett.comd People Make the Difference. To contact Labatt Breweries: LaBatt Breweries of Canada Harvey Carroll, vice-president of marketing 207 Queen's Quay Terminal, Ste. 299 Toronto, Ontario M5J 2T3, Canada Phone: 416-361-5050 Fax: 416-361-5200 Toll Free: 800-268-2337 Email: media.relations@inbev.comd Or email: http://www.labatt.com/english/lbc_contact/lbc_main.htm OUR WORK IS STRENGTHENED WITH YOUR STANDING WITH US IN LETTER WRITING, PRAYER SUPPORT, FINANCIAL HELP. WILL YOU HELP US MEET A $15,000 MATCH GRANT? YOUR FINANCIAL SACRIFICE WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED AT THIS TIME. Lastly, Match Grant. We received this gracious offer from an anonymous donor. "… I would like to again offer a $15,000 matching grant to anyone who hasn't given since 12/31/05 or to anyone who gives more than what they gave in 2006 (e.g. if they gave $1,000 in '06 and gave $1500 in '07, we will match the $500 increase as long as it was given between 9/10/07-12/31/07). We will match these gifts received from 9/10/07 through 12/31/07." DONATE ONLINE AT: https://secure4.afo.net/ada/main.php?f=donate/display9 ADA IS A MEMBER OF THE ECFA EVANGELICAL COUNCIL FOR FINANCIAL ACCOUNTABILITY OR SEND YOUR CHECK OR MONEY ORDER TO: American Decency Association Bill Johnson, President P.O. Box 202 Fremont, MI 49412 ph: 231-924-4050 https://americandecency.org ADA — a) that the ADA is an overtly Christian organization whose positions on the nature of morality emanate from a biblical worldview. b) that Christians are called to the pursuit of holiness in all aspects of their lives. c) that holiness demands of God's people that they be a light in a darkened world d) that being a light in a darkened world does not mean selfish retreat from the world, but an activism within it that proceeds from love for our neighbor. e) that the ADA desires to provide those who would desire to be a light with the tools and resources necessary to be that light.

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