I missed out on a opportunity to drink some really good beer last night, a fine selection from the photos I’ve seen. Still, I don’t regret because when your friends come calling, your true-blue friends, you pick up the phone and see what’s up. As a result, a planned post wasn’t to be but that’s okay, I can take the time to get some things off of my chest.
Will someone think of the children!!!
The first time I heard this phrase was off of the Simpsons. It seemed to be a running gag throughout the episode exclaimed by one supporting character or another. While the point and plot of the episode have long been forgotten, the refrain still stays, Will someone think of the children!
That seems to be the refrain or battle cry of anyone looking to further their personal agendas. Desguised under the pretense of “protecting our children”, neo-prohibitionists have taken it upon themselves to be guardian of our childrens’ futures. They believe that “alcopops” are the scourge of childkind and that they, much like marijuana, are the gateway to a life of boozing and morally questionable actions.
The San Francisco Chronicle has written an article regarding the on-going fight against alcopops entitled Liquor by any other name. In a nutshell, the state Board of Equalization (BOE) had rewritten the tax code to reclassify alcopops as distilled spirits in order to tax them at a higher rate. The manufacturers correctly argue that their products are not, nor have they ever contained, distilled spirits so therefore, they don’t need to pay any taxes. In a cash-strapped California, the article argues, the BOE should continue to prosecute alcopop manufacturers to get what is due them.
Well respected beer writer Jay Brooks has written a well articulated and thought out response to the SF Chroncile article and the whole issue in general. I strongly suggest you go over to either of those articles and read them to get caught up on the issue. I won’t pretend to know the ins and outs of the issue, that’s why I follow Jay. I agree with Jay wholeheartedly when he says this whole issue is driven for “moral” reasons versus public welfare.
I personally dislike alcopops (crap like Smirnoff Ice and Mike’s Hard Lemonade) because I find them to too sweet and because I don’t like the taste. I drink beer because I like the taste of beer. I won’t begrudge anyone for throwing back a Smirnoff Ice but it’s not for me. As responsible consumers of beer, we need to take a stand against the neo-prohibitionists and their fearmongering. If you really wanted to care for the welfare of your children, be a parent and watch what they do. Talk to your kids about the dangers of alcohol, teach them about peer pressure and encourage them to “do the right thing”. While I wouldn’t have any problems with alcopops going away, if they do, what’s next? Beer? Wine? Prison hooch?
BetterBeerBlog is a Social Media butterfly
I’m sure many of you already know but in case you haven’t, BetterBeerBlog has gone “social media”. This blog has served as a great outlet to share my love for beer, the brewing industry and for beer culture. The one issue with having a beer-centric blog is the need to write about beer-related things. There’s no room for anything else.
If you’re on Facebook, you can look me up by searching for “Peter Estaniel”. Sure, I still post a lot of beer-related stuff on there but there’s a lot of stuff not related to beer as well. You get a more complete picture of who I am.
I had no idea when I first started this blog how far it would take me (no that far, really) but I’m pleasantly surprised by it’s modest growth. So, like any other attention-whore, I’m trying to get more attention.
You may have noticed the little Flash-based widget in the right column beneath the search bar. That’s the BetterBeerBlog Twitter feed. Yes, I am now on Twitter as well and you can follow me at Twitter.com/BetterBeerBlog. I’m still getting used to sending “tweets” and all the other crap that comes along with Twitter but I’m finding it to be fun and interesting. Twitter is forcing me to become more succinct with what I have to say and that’s not a bad thing, considering I can get “wordy”.
In the great scheme of things, I will still be blogging regularly. My tweets will fill the void between blog posts and will usually cover things I want to blog about but can’t because I’m nowhere near a computer. This blog will continue to be your main source of information while Twitter will be supportive. Facebook will also be supportive but if you really want to know more about me personally, that’s where to go.
Hopefully I’ll get to see you readers on either Facebook or Twitter.
Beer Wars
The craft brewing community is abuzz about this movie with various tweets, FB status updates and blog posts. As usual, I am fashionably late to the party. If you haven’t yet heard of Beer Wars, you should check out the trailer here.
Basically, it’s a documentary that highlights the craft beer industry and their efforts to eek out a living while competing against “Big Beer”. There will be only one showing of this film followed by a live Q&A from some of the film’s “stars”. Check here to see where local screenings will take place in your area.
BetterBeerBlog will be catching Beer Wars at the AMC Eastridge Mall 15 theater. Chances are good that we’ll have a pre-movie get together first, catch the movie, then grab more beers afterwards. Hopefully we’ll be able to catch the movie with some of our friends, blog readers, friends who are blog readers and blog readers who are friends.
No related posts.
I hate the term alcopops, call it what it is, Cheerleader Beer.
As for kids and alcohol, it’s my belief that we demonize it to the point that kids see it as the forbidden fruit. Advertising only heightens their desire to be part of the celebration. I have a daughter, she’s only 20 months old, but I plan on introducing herto beer and the casual nature of beer well before she leaves home. If she’s raised to think of it as nothing more than a serious beverage, I think she’ll be less inclined to want to go to keggers and bang down plastic cups full of Natty Ice.
I think if we show our kids responsibly drinking through example and practice, they won’t have that desire t binge. Look at the traditional role of the pub in England and the increase in binge drinking coinciding with the death of the pub.