10.08.2009
Scottish Parliament motion against Tokyo* gathers support and momentum
Additional signatures have been added to the motion in parliament. It will now be eligable for a full debate which may lead to Tokyo* being made illegal.
S3M-4646 *#* Robert Brown: Tokyo Beer-That the Parliament is concerned at the extent of health and criminal justice problems associated with excessive and unhealthy alcohol consumption in Glasgow and other parts of Scotland; notes the production of Tokyo beer by BrewDog brewery; further notes that Tokyo is being cited as Britain's strongest beer; is concerned that, with an alcohol content of 18.2%, each 330ml bottle will contain the equivalent of six units of alcohol, which is twice the recommended daily limit for women set by health professionals; recognises the significant health and social harms associated with irresponsible drinking; further recognises that major cultural change is required if Scotland is to tackle its damaging relationship with alcohol, and therefore believes that promoting drinks of this kind with both a very high alcohol content and unit volume is reprehensible in a society where the medical evidence shows that, across all age groups and socio-economic categories, individuals are drinking too much alcohol.
Supported by: Dr Richard Simpson*, Kenneth Gibson*, Bill Kidd*, RossFinnie*, Mike Pringle*, Gil Paterson
"Of all tyrannies, a tyranny exercised for the good of its victims may be the most oppressive. It may be better to live under robber barons than under omnipotent moral busybodies. The robber baron's cruelty may sometimes sleep, his cupidity may at some point be satiated; but those who torment us for our own good will torment us without end for they do so with the approval of their own conscience. They may be more likely to go to Heaven yet at the same time likelier to make a Hell of earth. Their very kindness stings with intolerable insult. To be ‘cured' against one's will and cured of states which we may not regard as disease is to be put on a level of those who have not yet reached the age of reason or those who never will; to be classed with infants, imbeciles, and domestic animals."
C.S. Lewis
You can buy some here. Just be careful. This beer may eventually lead to the downfall of Western civilisation.
http://www.brewdog.com/product.php?id=26
Posted in - brewdog-news
Comments
- Hey, as someone said before, there really is not such a thing as bad publicity. Realistically, is there anything else that a craft brewer can do to get a full headline and a full color photo? In addition, there is always going to be the contrarian crowd that will purchase whatever The Man says that they should not have. I am in the US (as the spelling of color no doubt showed), and while I have not had this particular beer, I have had beers in the 18-21 percent range before and have always tried to show the respect that they have deserved. I have enjoyed all of the beers that I have had from BrewDog and I hope to have more in the future!
Incidentally, it is amazing just how different the perception of Stella Artois is between the US and the UK. Over there, it is the cheap stuff equivalent to Pabst Blue Ribbon in the US. In the US, Stella Artois is considered a luxury brand sold at a price at least 1 dollar above Bud. Furthermore, in the right bar (which, sadly, includes Belgian bars), Stella is served in a gold-rimmed, logoed stemware glass complete with a Plimsoll line. I am no particular fan of it by any means....just amused how one beer can be perceived so differently amongst the two cultures.
Bill G.27.08.2009
- Good too see you have twats in parliament north of the border too.
What is the problem that politicians and the media have with beer? Usually TV items about binge drinking illustrate the commentary with pictures of real ale, which is plain daft. Most binge drinking will involve cheap, crap beer (probably that lovely Stella), non-descript bland spirits (industrial vodka etc), and disgustingly sweet alcopops and shots. NO ONE is going to buy an 18% beer to get pissed on:
1. It tastes of...well...beer rather than malt substitute, hop extract, and lovely additives.
2. Its damn expensive, especially per unit alcohol. At £10 a bottle assuming it is equal to 3 pints that is £3.30 a pint. How much euroswill does that buy?
3. Its not cool. You mates wouldnt drink it.
18%? That is very dangerous. Better ban sherry, port and madeira as well just to be sure. They are endangering society, those fortified wines.
Michael Newman17.08.2009
- Well Dave many thanks for your semi articulate comment, it may be a scary thought for you but the strength is no concern to me. Its flavour that counts and this beer has no flavour appeal whatsoever, whether sipping slowly or quickly it is still awful and might be best employed for clearing blocked drains. Utopia14.08.2009
- Utopia im just wondering what you expected from an beer of this strength? Hang about this aint tennents, you might actually have to put this into a glass and savour it. I know its a scary idea, but some people drink things slowly as thats how they are ment to be drunk. So how about you shut up as your the one looking stupid here. magicdave613.08.2009
- Mon the Tokyo Dave P12.08.2009
- Utopia may be on to something here, if problem drinkers were force fed this awful rubbish they would give up drinking altogether. Billy Boston11.08.2009
- There is not much chance of binge drinking on this stuff,it is completely undrinkable. I bought a bottle to see what it was all about and frankly it is rubbish. These guys should grow up and stop conning people on how wonderful they are,they are a couple of overhyped idiots. utopia11.08.2009
- So I take it they will be passing a motion against Bells, Glenmorangie, Laphroaig, Glenlivet, Ardbeg etc ?
Oh wait of course not as the whisky manufacturers are what near all of Scotlands economy is based on and also provide a massive tourist draw.
Damn hypocrite politicians. Nick Hunter-Choat11.08.2009
- When is the retarded goverment going to look and see you cant buy this beer in Glasgow. What a bunch of tools. magicdave611.08.2009
- Have any of the reporters or press actually tried this? This is not some beer you just go out an down 3 pints or 5/6 bottles of. Whats wrong with people? This is a massive Imperial Stout. Its thick, dark, heavy, rich, and entirely different to that of what most binge drinking revolves around... Stella (AKA The Wife Beater) where people go out and drink 8 pints of it or buy 8 cans for £5. It makes me so mad as a quaffer to have Brewdog attacked when there are persons like myself who go out of their way to buy Extreme and fantastic beers which more often than not are shared amongst 2 or 3 friends on a tasting session or similar. At £10 a bottle or closer to £6 a bottle if you buy more than 6 bottles this just is not something your going to neck or even be able to afford to buy much of (All be it gorgeous). Its hard enough to even come across Brewdog Punk IPA anywhere south of the Scottish border, let alone bottles of Tokyo.
James and the boys at Brewdog - keep up the good work and trying new approaches, its working miracles.
The press and everyone else need to back down and concentrate more on slowing down the binge drinking culture which is happening in the clubs and bars... (Several pints washed down with alco-pops, and a few shots of spirits... Healthy... NOT!)
James Taylor11.08.2009
- Are you guys sure these politicians are not actually your fans who are helping you grow by gaining free publicity? Aki11.08.2009
- This just arrived today. I cant say I like it anywhere near as much as the last one. The sickly-sweet character of the beer entirely ruins it for me. Tokyo No 1 at 12% was an absolutely fantastic beer. I feel sorry that I cant say that about this one. Paul Brookfield10.08.2009
- Tokyo* being made illegal? The motion even if carried would only mean that the Scottish Parliament found it reprehensible, which is not the same as banning it (It would also mean the Parliament making itself a laughing stock, but that is a separate issue). There is no concrete threat to ban anything at the moment, although the momentum of the neo-prohibitionists is indeed worrying. I assumed that this proposal would be laughed away rather than gain further idiot supporters. Barm10.08.2009
- Just arrived today. I am on my second bottle, so watch out Civilisation, here I come!!
Of course, anti-social behaviour is not a social problem caused by too much government, rather than beer, is it?? Mark Smith10.08.2009