The Distilled Spirits Council of the U.S. (DISCUS) released a report detailing 15 complaints about print ads it received last year, most of which were filed by competing firms. The complaints alleged that the ads violated DISCUS' voluntary industry ad guidelines, such as by advertising in publications with more than 30 percent youth readership or using sexually suggestive images to sell alcohol.

In 11 of the 15 incidents, the targeted firm agreed to make changes to conform to the industry code.

DISCUS said it plans to update the report every six months. "The issuance of public reports will make the spirits industry's self-regulatory process more visible, transparent and understandable to the public," as well as prompting more people to contact the group with reports of potential code violations, said DISCUS President Peter Cressey.

Jim O'Hara, executive director of the Center on Alcohol Marketing and Youth at Georgetown University, praised the decision to make the complaints public, but said the industry could still do more to address underage drinking by limiting youth exposure to alcohol ads. TV alcohol advertising has grown significantly in recent years, he noted, with much of the growth fueled by distilled-spirits ads.

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