Liquor is in the game, but birth control and vitamins will remain on the bench for the NFL.
In a change of policy reported by The Wall Street Journal, the league will accept liquor commercials during the upcoming 2017 season. The NFL will allow broadcasters to accept four 30-second spots. The ads will be limited to two during any quarter or halftime, and networks are permitted to run two liquor spots during pregame and postgame programming.
The league originally resisted liquor advertisements, fearful of associating the sport and its athletes with hard liquor, but like other professional sports organizations, the NFL was wooed by the liquor industry, which spent $411 million on advertising in the United States last year.
The list of advertisers that will remain banned by the NFL is even more telling. It will retain its ban on birth control ads of any type, including condoms, but it will continue to accept advertisements for erectile dysfunction treatments. While the NFL does accept lottery ads, commercials related to gambling and tourism to locations, such as Las Vegas, will remain banned. Spots for energy drinks, such as Red Bull, and ads for legalized marijuana will also continue to be prohibited.
The NFL will also continue to refuse advertising from GNC. It rejected a Super Bowl commercial from the vitamin and supplement retailer earlier this year, citing the company’s association with supplements that have been banned by the league.
However, it will continue to accept commercials for violent video games and movies, each one undergoing a review to determine if they are too violent.
With these policies in place, football fans can count on a season filled with violence, hard liquor and erectile dysfunction.
Parents of young children get more time with them if they work from home.Photo credit: Canva
Juicy subject matter
Giphy from The Blacklist.
We could start a rumor.
Grieving couple comforting each other
This response to someone grieving a friend might be the best internet comment ever
When someone is hit with the sudden loss of a friend or loved one, words rarely feel like enough. Yet, more than a decade ago, a wise Redditor named GSnow shared thoughts so profound they still bring comfort to grieving hearts today.
Originally posted around 2011, the now-famous reply was rediscovered when Upvoted, an official Reddit publication, featured it again to remind everyone of its enduring truth. It began as a simple plea for help: “My friend just died. I don't know what to do.”
What followed was a piece of writing that many consider one of the internet’s best comments of all time. It remains shared across social media, grief forums, and personal messages to this day because its honesty and metaphor speak to the raw reality of loss and the slow, irregular path toward healing.
Below is GSnow’s full reply, unchanged, in all its gentle, wave-crashing beauty:
Why this advice still matters
Mental health professionals and grief counselors often describe bereavement in stages or phases, but GSnow’s “wave theory” gives an image more relatable for many. Rather than a linear process, grief surges and retreats—sometimes triggered by a song, a place, or a simple morning cup of coffee.
In recent years, this metaphor has found renewed relevance. Communities on Reddit, TikTok, and grief support groups frequently reshare it to help explain the unpredictable nature of mourning.
Many readers say this analogy helps them feel less alone, giving them permission to ride each wave of grief rather than fight it.
Finding comfort in shared wisdom
Since this comment first surfaced, countless people have posted their own stories underneath it, thanking GSnow and passing the words to others facing fresh heartbreak. It’s proof that sometimes, the internet can feel like a global support group—strangers linked by shared loss and hope.
For those searching for more support today, organizations like The Dougy Center, GriefShare, and local bereavement groups offer compassionate resources. If you or someone you know is struggling with intense grief, please reach out to mental health professionals who can help navigate these deep waters.
When grief comes crashing like the ocean, remember these words—and hang on. There is life between the waves.
This article originally appeared four years ago.