MYERS DECLARES LIQUOR BAN UNCONSTITUTIONAL

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) - Oregon Attorney General Hardy Myers on Monday said
the state's ban on liquor ads on TV and radio is unconstitutional,
prompting regulators to promise to lift the 40-year-old ban.

``We will change our rules to conform to the law,'' said Pamela Erickson,
Oregon Liquor Control Commission administrator.

Myers said in his ruling that the OLCC ban violated the state
constitution's free speech guarantee.

The liquor industry had urged the OLCC to lift its ban after the Distilled
Spirits Council of the United States lifted its own voluntary ban on radio
and TV ads in May 1996, following a U.S. Supreme Court ruling that banning
liquor ads was unconstitutional.

Beer and wine ads already are commonplace on radio and TV, but television
stations and national TV networks have been reluctant to run liquor ads.

Erickson said OLCC commissioners will vote on whether to drop the ban at
their May 18-19 meeting in Portland.

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