Originally published March 26 2005
Viagra ads not appropriate for prime time, Congressman says
by Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, NaturalNews Editor
A Virginia Congressman says television commercials for Viagra, Levitra and other erectile dysfunction pills are inappropriate for prime time television. So he is sponsoring a bill that would restrict the ads to after 10 p.m. The ads are "...saturating prime time family viewing hours. It's gotten to be too much," the lawmaker says. Overall, however, he agrees with the drug makers that the ads are generally helpful -- just not when kids are likely watching.
You see them on television at all times of the day.
But some people say ads for "erectile dysfunction treatments" are not appropriate for everyone watching television.
Now members of congress want to do something about that.
It's likely this question comes up in family homes after these ads appear on television.
The commercials are often for drugs such as Viagra, Levitra and Cialis.
Some say the erectile dysfunction prescription drugs are sold with a seductive slant.
"I don't think they're inappropriate", says Virginia Congressman Jim Moran.
But Congressman Moran says he thinks the ads are inappropriate for younger viewers.
He's now writing a bill to have them shown after 10 p.m.
"They're saturating the airwaves during prime family viewing hours; it's gotten to be too much", says Moran.
Not so says the Association of National Advertisers.
Daniel Jaffe of the association claims the ads provide a service, educating the public of a very real medical condition.
"You cannot just set up a world in which nothing is discussed of seriousness because some kids may hear it", says Jaffe.
The legislation would follow similar rules for hard liquor commercials which are only on television after 10 p.m.
For now, the ads for erectile dysfunction are shown on daytime, primetime and anytime during the day.
While Moran's bill has some support, he admits it's not likely to pass.
But he says next year Medicare will begin paying for E.D. drugs, which means the government will in turn be paying for the advertising on television.
Maybe then the nation will think again about whether these drugs and the commercials should have such a wide audience.
Click on video to see Cindy Pena's report.
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