Sam Adams Beer Ad Omits 'God' Reference From Declaration Of Independence
BOSTON (CBS) - A controversy is brewing over the latest Samuel Adams beer commercial.
The ad asks, "Why name a beer after Samuel Adams?"
It quotes the Declaration of Independence, but omits a portion that references God.
"All men are created equal, that they are endowed with certain unalienable rights: life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness," the actor in the ad states.
The actual document reads, "...that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness."
Samuel Adams' Facebook page has been bombarded with both positive and negative comments over the ad.
The company reportedly issued a statement acknowledging it was an intentional omission, and noting that the decision is in line with industry guidelines.
"The Beer Institute Advertising Code says, 'Beer advertising and marketing materials should not include religion or religious themes.' We agree with that and try to adhere to these guidelines. While we understand your objection to the omission of the phrase "by our creator" in other circumstances (after all, they occur in the Declaration of independence which Samuel Adams signed and helped author) we believe it would be outside our industry guidelines to invoke those religious words in a beer commercial," the statement said.
