Cav daily sues Virginia ABC over alcohol advertising

The Cavalier Daily has been the champion of student journalism, self-governance and free speech at UVA since, like, a long time ago. And yet, with all of that under their grosgrain belts, they still find time to dabble in a little constitutional law. Amazing!
By now you’ve probably heard that The Cavalier Daily is teaming up with Virginia Tech’s Collegiate Times to file a joint lawsuit against Virginia’s Alcoholic Beverage Control. They say a law restricting alcohol advertising in college papers is unconstitutional and is costing them ad revenue.
Ellen Biltz, editor of the Collegiate Times, has emphasized that the lawsuit isn’t about advertising losses, it’s about free speech.
The Cavalier Daily says a lack of alcohol branding and heavily restricted descriptive language is hurting their ability to compete in the market. The suit states, “The same businesses that are completely prohibited from placing advertisements for alcoholic beverages in The Cavalier Daily are able to advertise in competing non-student newspapers such as the C-VILLE Weekly.” (Who, us?)
It’s true, we can print brand advertising—and we get to use a few more, um, descriptive phrases like “Polynesian drinks” and “spirits.” But our alcohol ads are no free-for-all, either.
So until the newspapers sort it out for the good of all mankind (or at least senior frat dwellers), here’s a handy guide to brand-name drink specials on the Corner.
Baja Bean Co.’s got Happy Hour every day from 3pm to 9pm, with Gold (that’s Cuervo Gold) Margaritas and Pabst Blue Ribbon for $2.
The guys at O’Neill’s were super-skittish about telling us their drink specials, due to ABC superstitions, but we do have it on good authority that there’s $1 Rolling Rock on Wednesdays.
Coupe DeVille’s has Budweiser for $1.50 Mondays-Wednesdays, and $3.75 pitchers (usually PBR or Keystone Light) on Thursdays.
Buddhist Biker Bar‘s got $1 PBR on Mondays to go with their tasty $5 burger special. Thursdays they’ve got Sol for $2.
The old chaps at The Virginian offer $5 Bud Light and PBR pitchers, and $4 top shelf bourbon (like Maker’s Mark and Wild Turkey) every day from 5pm to 7pm. They’ve also got $3 Jack-and-Cokes on Mondays, $5 Jager(meister) bombs on Wednesdays, $4 Red Bull-and-vodkas on Fridays and $2 Blue Moon on Saturdays. Whew!
There, that should be enough to tide you over until freedom is restored.—Meg McEvoy, with reporting by Mary Ashton Burgh