FREE ESSAY ON RUBIN V. COORS BREWING CO.

RUBIN V. COORS BREWING CO.

CASE CITATION: Rubin v. Coors Brewing Co. (514 US 476), 1995
BACKGROUND
"The rules and principals of commercial law are of ancient origin. Throughout the
centuries merchants engaged in trade and commerce have recognized customs and usages
which regulate and control their conduct. Gradually over the years a body of law
developed..." (Robert & Corley, 312) Commercial speech arose in 1942 when the Supreme
Court announced that the First Amendment does not protect it. As the years went on, on
the "Bicentennial of our Republic", the Courts position was reversed and they declared
that the First Amendment protects commercial speech. But they court did say that
commercial speech should receive less protection then noncommercial speech. That brings
us to the definitions of commercial and noncommercial speech. 
"Noncommercial speech, embodied in the phrases 'freedom of speech' and 'freedom of
expression,' is entitled to virtually full first amendment protection; hence, the speaker
is 
granted considerable latitude in stating a position...Commercial speech is generally 
considered to be communications that have the sale of a product or service as their 
ultimate goal. Content regulation of commercial speech is allowed to prevent false, 
deceptive, or misleading information from being transmitted"(Boedecker and Morgan, 1). 
Some cases that have affected the First Amendment and Commercial speech are: Valentine v.
Chrestensen (1942), the U.S. Supreme Court first declared that the Constitution placed no
restraints on government regulation of commercial advertising. Until this time there
wasn't anything that distinguished between commercial and noncommercial communications.
Then in 1975 in Bigelow v. Virginia the court said that the, "the government cannot
restrict advertising where the commercial activity itself is legal and further noted that
the '...activity advertised pertained to constitutional interests"(Boedecker and Morgan,
2). There were limitations placed on time, place, and manner and the court could also
enforce rules that dealt with false, deceptive, or misleading advertising. Five years
later, the Central Hudson Gas & Electric Corp. v. Public Service Commission (1980)
developed a four-part breakdown for commercial speech. Throughout the courts case it used
these four steps, "(1) Determine whether the expression is protected by the First
Amendment, that is, does it involve lawful activity and not mislead the audience? (2)
Does the government have a substantial interest to be achieved by restricting the speech?
(3) Does the regulation directly advance the government's interest? (4) Is the regulation
more extensive then necessary to achieve that interest?" (Boedecker and Morgan, 1) this
was a significant move in the direction for commercial speech. "The currently used
Central Hudson test creates an artificial distinction between 'commercial' and
'noncommercial' speech" (Coach, 3). The issues involved in Central Hudson represents a
change in direction in terms of deciding what degree of protection to grant commercial
statements. It includes a judgement about the importance of regulating the subject matter
or activity in question and therefor withdrew some of the protection granted upon
commercial speech in the previous year. In summary, more types of communication are
moving toward the commercial speech category, which means more first amendment protection
for commercial speech. Therefor, there are two problems that marketers face when it come
to commercial speech, identifying commercial speech and applying it to the commercial
speech standard.
THE ISSUES
In broad terms, is the speech actually commercial? This is one of the simplest issues
throughout a commercial speech case. So if the answer is "yes" and the speech is found to
be commercial, then should it receive a lesser degree of protection? Throughout all the
commercial speech cases during the years this has been the question. But, the legal issue
dealing with the First Amendment in Rubin v. Coors Brewing Co. was, is there a First
Amendment right to disclose the alcohol content of beer on the label? The case also dealt
with the idea of "strength wars." The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms (BATF) in
the U.S. Treasury Department had prohibited beer labels from displaying alcohol content
because of the fact that it would cause companies to have wars, as to which beer had the
stronger alcohol content. The courts answer was yes, "Section 5 of the Federal Alcohol
Administration Act, prohibiting beer labels from displaying alcohol content, held to
violate commercial speech protections of Federal Constitution's First amendment." (Rubin
v. Coors Brewing Company Case, LexisNexis, 1)
DECISION/RATIONAL
The majority opinion of the court was that the Federal Alcohol Administration Act of 1935
violates the brewer's First Amendment rights. Justice Clarence Thomas wrote the majority
opinion of the court. The opinion states that the brewer went to the Bureau of Alcohol,
Tobacco, and Firearms (BATF) to get permission to use labels that disclosed the alcohol
content of the beer. Their application was turned down because it was said to violate the
Federal Alcohol administration Act (FAAA). The brewer than filed case saying that their
Constitution's First Amendment Rights were violated. The Court for the District of
Colorado stated that the ban was necessary for the mere fact that displaying the alcohol
content would cause "strength wars" between brewers. "If brewers were free to list the
alcohol content then they might try to compete by selling increasingly potent products"
(Seligman & Moore, Fortune, 1). After appealing the case, the Tenth Circuit of the Court
of Appeals agreed with the District of Colorado in saying that is was necessary to omit
the alcohol content from beer labels. However, the District Court questioned the matter
of whether there was a relationship between the ban of alcohol content and the goal of
avoiding strength wars. After going through several different appeals, the court of
appeals came to the conclusion that; "...the Government failed to demonstrate that the
prohibition in any way prevented strength wars. The court found that there was no
evidence of any relationship between the publication of factual information regarding
alcohol content and competition on the basis of such content" (514 U.S. 476, Lexis Nexus,
5). The Supreme Court granted certiorari and reviewed the Tenth Circuit's decision that
violated the First Amendment and they concluded that the ban infringed the respondent's
freedom of speech, and affirmed the court's decision. (Lexis Nexus, 5) In conclusion,
both the District Court and the Court of Appeals found that the Government had failed to
present any credible evidence showing that the disclosure of alcohol content would
promote strength wars. According to the District Court, nothing that was heard during the
trial led them to believe that having alcohol content on the labels will promote strength
wars. So they concluded that banning the alcohol content on the labels of malt beverages
has really nothing to do with the type of advertising that promotes strength wars (Rubin
v. Coors 514 U.S. 476, Lexis Nexis, 9). After the Supreme Court reviewed the case and
found that is failed the Central Hudson Test, they affirmed the decisions of the lower
courts. 
In the case of Rubin v. Coors there was one concurring decision by Justice Stevens. He
gave this reason for concurring in the judgement, 
I write separately because I am convinced that the constitutional infirmity in the
statute is more patent than the Courts opinion indicates. Instead of relying on the
formulaic approach announced in Central Hudson Gas & Electric Corporation v. Public
Service Commonwealth of N.Y., I believe the Court should ask whether the justification
for allowing more regulation of commercial speech than other speech than other speech has
any application to this unusual statute (Rubin v. Coors 514 U.S. 476, Lexis Nexis, 10). 
According to Stevens the prohibition is unacceptable because commercial speech should not
be treated any different under the First Amendment. He stated that the speech at issue
here is an accurate statement, on the label of a bottle of beer, of the alcohol content
inside. Stevens reiterates that this is what the majority defines as commercial speech.
In my opinion I believe that Stevens used an excellent analogy when explaining why this
is commercial speech. He said, "...if a non-profit consumer protection group were to
publish the identical statement, 'Coors beer has 4.73% alcohol by volume,' on the cover
of a magazine, the court would not label the speech as commercial" (Rubin v. Coors 514
U.S. 476, Lexis Nexis, 12). This suggests that the reason the label is considered to be
commercial speech is because according to Central Hudson, the intent of the label is to
sell a product. In conclusion, Stevens felt as though there were other ways to go about
the problem of "strength wars" without violating the First Amendment. He sees no reason
why if varying alcohol strength are lawful then why brewers may not inform their customer
that their beverages are stronger or weaker than competing products. 
In my opinion, this statute is unconstitutional because, regardless of the standard of
review, the First amendment mandates rejection of the Government's proffered
justification for this restriction. Although some regulation of statements about alcohol
content that increase consumer awareness would be entirely proper, this statutory
provision is nothing more than an attempt to blindfold the public (Rubin v. Coors 514
U.S. 476, Lexis Nexis, 14).
In conclusion, there was basically a majority opinion even though Stevens felt as though
there were some more issues to be discussed. In summary was Stevens argued is true,
"...truthful speech about alcohol content of beer would be protected by the First
Amendment in many contexts, and should not be less protected because it appears on a
container label" (Stewart, 2) 
SIGNIFICANCE
As to what effect the case had on society, Rubin v. Coors brewing company changed the
FAAA regulation on advertising the alcohol content on beer labels. But the decision will
also have a major impact on governmental regulation. 
The immediate consequences will be that the government will have to prove that any
prohibited speech invites some real harm; that the regulation directly advances the
interest; and that the regulation is sufficiently tailored to that interest in order for
the government to regulate that commercial speech (Cava & Massin, 3). 
The decision in this case may also take a step toward the Supreme Court ruling that
commercial speech should have the same protection as other speech, except, of course if
the commercial speech is false or misleading. This case also has a major impact on the
business world, for instance in advertising or marketing. Currently, companies or
organizations can publicize any information about their products or services, as long as
they are honest, not misleading, and not harmful to government interest. Since this case,
marketers will have the right to publicize all kinds of information, even information
that has been prohibited in the past (Cava, 3). Another way the case has had an effect,
was on a preceding case. In an opinion by Justice Stevens in 44 Liquormart v. Rhode
Island, he referred back to the case by saying, "Last term we held that a federal law
abridging a brewer's right to provide the public with accurate information about the
alcoholic content of malt beverages in unconstitutional. We now hold that Rhode Island's
statutory prohibition against advertisements that provide the public with accurate
information about retail prices of alcoholic beverages is also invalid" (517 U.S. 484,
1996). So in sum, there wasn't a drastic change in how the law is used from this case but
it did have some effect on society, future cases, and governmental regulations. In my own
opinion, I think information pertaining tot his case is very important, because
advertising has a huge effect on society and plays a big role on influencing why what
consumers buy. 
APPENDIX A
A.1. Full Supreme Court Decision
Robert E. Rubin, Secretary of the Treasury, Petitioner v. Coors Brewing Company (514 U.S.
476) 1995.
2. Periodical Literature
a. Contemporaneous Articles
i. News Report
Seligman, Daniel; Moore Alicia Hills. "The Winding Road to the First Amendment." Fortune
Jul. 1995: 211.
ii. Two Analysis/commentary
Stewart, David O. " Business Talk: Supreme Court Continues to Struggle with Commercial
Speech Doctrine." ABA Journal 81 Sept. 1995: 40-42
"Rubin v. Coors: Supreme Court Rejects Prohibitionism." Washington legal Foundation:
Legal Opinion Letter 5 June 1995: 1-3. 
b. Two additional analysis/commentary
Boedecker, Karl A; Morgan, Fred W. "The Evolution of First Amendment Protection For
Commercial Speech." Journal of Marketing 59 (1995): 38-48.
Coach, Aaron A. "Recent Development: Free Speech and Freer Speech: Glickman v. Wileman
Bros. & Elliot, Inc., 117 S. Ct. 2130 (1997)." Harvard Journal of Law & Public Policy. 21
Spring 1998: 623-638.
c. One article from scholarly journal
Cava, Anita; Scott S. Massin. "Marketing and the Law." Journal of the Academy of
Marketing Science 24 Spring (1996): 184-187. 
3. Other Literature
a. Reference Book
Rubin v. Coors Brewing Company. Landmark Briefs and Arguments of the Supreme Court of the
United Stated: Constitutional Law. Ed. Philip B. Kurland, Gerhard Casper. Vol. 236.
University Publications of America, 1994.
b. General Publication Book
Robert, William J., Robert N. Corley. Dillavou and Howard's Principals of Business Law.
New Jersey: PrenticeHall Inc., 1967.
APPENDIX B
SOURCE SUBJECT HEADINGS TOPIC/SUB HEADINGS SUB-SUB HEADINGS
EBSCOhost Commercial Law Rubin and Coors
LexisNexis Case Rubin and Coors
LexisNexis News Commercial Law
LexisNexis News Rubin and Coors
Library Catalog Subject Commercial Law
Landmark Cases Rubin v. Coors 
U.S. Reports Rubin v. Coors
Justices who voted majority:
Thomas
Rehnquist
O'Connor
Scalia
Kennedy
Douter
Ginsburg
Breyer
Ch.J
J.J
Bibliography
APPENDIX A
A.1. Full Supreme Court Decision
Robert E. Rubin, Secretary of the Treasury, Petitioner v. Coors Brewing Company (514 U.S.
476) 1995.
2. Periodical Literature
a. Contemporaneous Articles
i. News Report
Seligman, Daniel; Moore Alicia Hills. "The Winding Road to the First Amendment." Fortune
Jul. 1995: 211.
ii. Two Analysis/commentary
Stewart, David O. " Business Talk: Supreme Court Continues to Struggle with Commercial
Speech Doctrine." ABA Journal 81 Sept. 1995: 40-42
"Rubin v. Coors: Supreme Court Rejects Prohibitionism." Washington legal Foundation:
Legal Opinion Letter 5 June 1995: 1-3. 
b. Two additional analysis/commentary
Boedecker, Karl A; Morgan, Fred W. "The Evolution of First Amendment Protection For
Commercial Speech." Journal of Marketing 59 (1995): 38-48.
Coach, Aaron A. "Recent Development: Free Speech and Freer Speech: Glickman v. Wileman
Bros. & Elliot, Inc., 117 S. Ct. 2130 (1997)." Harvard Journal of Law & Public Policy. 21
Spring 1998: 623-638.
c. One article from scholarly journal
Cava, Anita; Scott S. Massin. "Marketing and the Law." Journal of the Academy of
Marketing Science 24 Spring (1996): 184-187. 
3. Other Literature
a. Reference Book
Rubin v. Coors Brewing Company. Landmark Briefs and Arguments of the Supreme Court of the
United Stated: Constitutional Law. Ed. Philip B. Kurland, Gerhard Casper. Vol. 236.
University Publications of America, 1994.
b. General Publication Book
Robert, William J., Robert N. Corley. Dillavou and Howard's Principals of Business Law.
New Jersey: PrenticeHall Inc., 1967.
APPENDIX B
SOURCE SUBJECT HEADINGS TOPIC/SUB HEADINGS SUB-SUB HEADINGS
EBSCOhost Commercial Law Rubin and Coors
LexisNexis Case Rubin and Coors
LexisNexis News Commercial Law
LexisNexis News Rubin and Coors
Library Catalog Subject Commercial Law
Landmark Cases Rubin v. Coors 
U.S. Reports Rubin v. Coors
Justices who voted majority:
Thomas
Rehnquist
O'Connor
Scalia
Kennedy
Douter
Ginsburg
Breyer
Ch.J
J.J