How 'bout a little Hawaiian Punch? Pow!!"

"Git along little blueberry critters, git along."

"Two all beef patties, special sauce, lettuce, cheese, pickles, onions on a sesame seed bun."

"Spuds, you're a party animal!"

These are the fond memories of my youth - television ads. When I was little, my favorite part of television was not the shows themselves, but the mini-shows portrayed in the commercials. The same still holds today; I watch television to see ads, because t hat's where the real creativity is. During my life, however, I have never been privy to seeing an ad for vodka, gin or scotch.

In 1936, the Distilled Spirits Council of the United States imposed a voluntary ban on radio advertisements on hard liquor and in 1948 extended the ban to include television. This all came to an end as of Nov. 7. And the voluntary ban should come to an en d, not because of freedom of expression, but for freedom of enterprise.

With the annual consumption of distilled spirits (hard liquor) down almost 30 percent since 1980, but the consumption of beer rising over 4 percent in the same time period, the council decided that it was time to begin advertising again. It seemed a littl e odd to the council that companies are able to advertise beer and wine on television but cannot air hard liquor commercials.

However, if you want to see or hear these new commercials, you will have to do it in another city. Although ABC, NBC, CBS and Fox have all decided not to change their corporate policies concerning alcohol advertising, it is up to the discretion of the loc al affiliates whether or not to take ads for local air time. So far, however, none of the major television stations in Tucson have any current plans to run liquor ads, nor do most of the radio stations.

Karen Rice, general manager of Tucson's ABC affiliate, KGUN 9, told me that the station's policy is to not accept hard liquor ads and that they have "made the decision not to change the policy."

The other television stations did not take such a hard stance. KMSB Fox 11 and KTTU UPN 18 will not accept the ads at this time, said Lyvonne Hill, the stations' sales assistant. Kevin Branigan, the local sales manager for the CBS affiliate, KOLD 13, told me that the station has not made a final decision on whether or not it will accept ads, but right now, there are certain corporate policies and station policies against accepting them.

KVOA 4, the NBC affiliate, is taking more of a 'wait and see' approach and keeping an "open door." Bob Manown, the station's general sales manager, said that they will "turn down any hard liquor ads" and there will be no major change in ad policy "in the foreseeable future."

It is not much different for the radio stations in the area. Debra Wagner, general manager of SFX Broadcasting, the owners of KRQ, KOOL, KNST and KCEE, said that the "major radio corporations are trying to decide on a stance, but there is no comment as of now. There will be an answer within a week."

Jim Cooley, the general manager for KTKT, KFMA and KLPX, said that his stations "categorically will not accept" hard liquor ads and the stations have already been approached twice this year.

Ironically, all of these radio and television stations do accept ads for beer and wine. Is there really any difference between hard liquor and beer and wine?

Unlike the beer industry, the Distilled Spirit Council will still adhere to their Code of Good Practice which prohibits its members from using cartoon figures popular with children or to claim that drinking will lead to increased sexual prowess. In other words, parents should have no worries about seeing cartoon frogs sing about hard liquor, a lÊ Budweiser, nor will they have to watch a cute dog quaff a fifth of vodka, once again a lÊ Budweiser and Spuds Mackenzie.

I knew Spuds. Spuds was a friend of mine. And she never drank beer or gave a six-pack to minors.

It is about time people in the United States see liquor ads on television. For a country that prides itself on free speech and free enterprise, too many things are restricted. No one is going to be hurt by watching a commercial for Bacardi or Tanqueray. I f anything, they will be amused and might go buy the product.

Jeremy Pepper is a philosophy senior. His column, 'Dash of Pepper,' appears every other Thursday.

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