Harass used to be two words?

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Halifax billboard joke offends women's groupsCTV.ca News StaffIt was meant to be a clever play on words to drum up business. But instead, a billboard at a Halifax beer hall has only drummed up controversy.The sign outside the Halifax Alehouse reads: "Our waitress uniforms were designed back when 'harass' was two words."Many people in town find the sign offensive, including Irene Smith, with the city's Avalon Sexual Assault Centre, who called the Alehouse to complain."It's sort of says: 'What's wrong with the good old days?'" she says. "The ad promotes the notion that's it's okay to go sexually harass women," Smith told ATV News. "And quite frankly, the Human Rights Act says sexual harassment is against the law. You are actually breaking the legislation to do that."Although the manager of Alehouse refused to comment when contacted for an interview, an executive with the company that produced the billboard agreed to talk."Clearly, it's the Alehouse's intent to attract the young adult audience," CCL senior vice president Chris Keevill told ATV News. "And we ould hope that customers recognize this billboard in the manner that it was intended to be: tongue-in-cheek."Don Shiner, a marketing professor at Mount Saint Vincent University, says these days, advertisers and their clients are constantly pushing the envelope."It's always questionable when we use (removed) to sell," he says. But Shiner says (removed) and alcohol is a more sensitive combination. Shiner says it's also interesting that because of the reaction, the Alehouse will probably receive more publicity than it would have if the billboard had been less controversial.

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