The ad, being no different from many of the liquor ads across the walls and doors of many homes in the city, feature a bronze toned beauty (the same color as the liquor), with her rear end covered by a slice of orange. On the right hand corner is a glass of Campari topped with orange juice.

Some riders on the C train complained the sexy ad is unsuitable for youths - and should be removed.

There's a naked woman up there. That's not to be seen by kids, said Denise Armstrong of Brooklyn, who has two teen-age children.

Paschell Carter, a 40-year-old mother of three and a grandmother, agreed.

It shouldn't be up there because minors ride the train, she said.

My granddaughter might ask, "Grandma, why is that woman naked with an orange on her ^backside_?'

Even some men objected for the same reason.

For me, it's offensive because of the children on the train. This is about a drink, not a negligee, said Ralph Warner, a journalist and father of six.

But teen-agers were swooning over the ad. They said the ad was all about having sex.

The first time I saw it, I said, "Wow.' I want to buy this, said 15-year-old George McGwire.

The message is if I get Campari, I might get some girls.

Some riders said the ad was sexy, but not indecent.

There's nothing wrong with it. She's nude, but you don't see anything. I'd do it, said Francine Crichlo, a 32-year-old former model who has a 13-year-old son.

Kids eventually have to learn about sex and the female body, she added

Some men said they liked what they saw.

You need to lose the orange peel so you can see it all, said 37-year-old Gregg Jerido.

Some riders had just noticed the Campari ad for the first time.

It doesn't bother me. It's all right, said Keith Myrie, 61, of Brooklyn.

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority defended the ads as appropriate.

They're up there, said MTA spokesman Tom Kelly.

The ads are in 570 subway cars, taking up one side in each.

But Kelly said the ads are posted only for one month and will be coming down soon. He did not immediately know what Campari paid for the ad.

-- Midknight - 11/10/98