A frequent refrain of sweepstakes naysayers is that the types of people who seek quick riches or product giveaways are the least desirable customers a company could engage.

While companies benefit as consumers buy into these occasions, consumers are supposed to benefit from the product giveaways and free educational seminars that are usually offered during the events.

Within stores, music CD's are the product giveaway of choice, and disk jockeys even play records in the aisles between the clothing racks.

Cigarette industry officials say they have independently taken a number of public health measures like stopping product giveaways on street corners.

Spurred by the protests, the United Nations adopted guidelines in 1981 discouraging such company practices as product giveaways in hospitals and advertising that undercut breast-feeding.

Each year since 1999 Nintendo stages free national tours involving live character appearances, stage shows, Nintendo challenges, product giveaways and competitions.

Sales promotions include things like contests and games, sweepstakes, product giveaways, samples coupons, loyalty programs, and discounts.

Collectively, though, the proposed marketing bans would simply mean more spending on magazine advertising, more product giveaways and an increase in movie stars lighting up on screen, the experts predict.

The company is also about to embark on a more aggressive campaign to entice people, with product giveaways or discounts, to sign up for e-mail.

Listeners are invited to call in with questions for Begoun or her co-hosts, and each show includes product giveaways to callers.