Dear Sir,

It is with great sadness that I have to write to you after having watched your coverage of the Scottish Cup on Saturday night.

The programme was more like a promotional tool for selling Tennant’s Lager than it was about football.

The BBC is meant to be free from advertising, which is why we buy a licence, so why was the following in your programme:

1) Constant referral to the Scottish Cup as the “Tennant’s Scottish Cup”?

2) A wall of Tennant’s logos behind most guests being interviewed after the match?

3) The Tennant’s logo produced by your graphics department which appeared in the intro to highlights?

The last point is particularly worrying, as this is nothing but pure, unadulterated, advertising.

Why?

I reluctantly resign myself to the fact that some advertising will be aired, at least until alcohol sponsorship of sport is abolished, such as the Tennant’s advertising boards behind the goals in every game, but I can see no excuses for the above concerns.

We all know that football and alcohol do not mix. The trouble in Glasgow on Saturday evening between various groups of “fans” was a usual reminder just in case anyone forgot for a second.

I was involved in advising the Scottish Executive recently in its efforts to find solutions to Scotland’s grave alcohol problems. Our nation does not need a blitzkrieg advertising campaign on the BBC.

Please tell me the reasons that you are advertising Tennant’s Lager so aggressively, so that I may report to my members, as well as to the Executive..

I eagerly await your reply and I thank you in advance.

Yours sincerely,

Stewart J. Cowan