Kick-starting the beer equality act
14.05.2011
It's unsettling that in the year 2011 prejudice can still exist; even prejudice against beverages, it would seem.
Sadly, a couple of weeks ago saw strong ABV beers wheeled into the government's prejudicial firing line as they were officially banned from Weston-Super-Mare's Grand Pier.
Playing host to the launch of British Tourism Week, police and local authorities demanded that the Pier refrained from serving beers above 5% in strength in a bid to prevent the venue from becoming “known as somewhere that sold strong beer”.
Wines and spirits, however, remain firmly on the menu.
So what does this say about prejudice towards beer?
Well, clearly it still exists and that in the eyes of the authorities, beer above 5% ABV is the preferred tipple of troublemakers who – God forbid – might have stumbled, bleary eyed and incoherent, towards the launch of British Tourism Week finally cementing Britain's title as the 'Yob of Europe'.
Although the pier may have had a problem with drinkers acting irresponsibly or antisocially in the past, this is clearly an example of how the actions of a few infringe on the liberties of many.
Furthermore, what was stopping a complete blanket ban on all kinds alcohol for the duration of Tourism Week? Basing the exclusion on strength alone seems like a cop out to us, especially since a large glass of red or white wine boasts more or less the same number of units as a pint of strong lager.
So does the prejudice lie not so much with beer itself then, but more against the types of people who drink it and their inability to act responsibly? Perhaps.
We believe that prejudice and presumptions of consumers and different types of alcohol are so deeply intertwined that it is going to prove mighty difficult - yet not impossible - to unpick.
Only then, can we start to take a more appreciative and informed approach towards alcohol - and in particular beer - that might simultaneously helps to deflate statistics on binge drinking in the process.
Comments
- http://bit.ly/l1ZFQ3 Richard E Allelle18.05.2011
- Re: Will's comment regarding being half-way towards being a communist nation.
Firstly, behave yourself! We currently have a centre-right government in England, which in my humble opinion is leaning towards far-right. I am from north of the border and I have seen Scottish nationalism at its worst. I have seen English nationalism at its worst as well.
Communism should be seen in the light of benevolent socialism. Communism is not perfect but it is a system that theoretically treats people equitably and is concerned with the welfare of the group rather than the welfare of the individual. Currently we live in a time of crazy rampant consumerism and materialistic, egotistical chest beating. The individual wants everything now regardless of how they obtain it or who they fuck over to obtain it. Buy to let emperors who become more like the scum lords of yore.
It's wrong for any government to step in the way this local authority has and make a decision that is probably very ill-informed. It's only appropriate when it becomes an epidemic that can be supported by clear unbiased evidence, as it is in Russia, which is no longer a communist country.
Rant over and I miss the old Punk terribly although the new one is rather fruitilicious! My apologies in advance.Grahamf416.05.2011 - That newspaper cutting says Tokyo will cost £4 per bottle. If only... Rich15.05.2011
- A similar thing going on in Brighton - http://www.theargus.co.uk/news/8792646.Brighton_council_bans_super_strength_beer_to_combat_street_drinking/ Understandable given the amount of tramps drinking Special Brew and injecting smack, but it does seem a bit OTT to ban all high strength beer whilst allowing the sale of wine, whisky etc... A minimum sale price per unit of alcohol would deal with the problem much more fairly - although I don't think our government is allowed to implement such a law as it is against the wishes of our Supreme Masters in Brussels. BringBackChaosTheoryAgain14.05.2011
- If it’s anything like SA, the people that think up these ridiculous laws are on the pay-roll of AB-InBev or SAB-miller in my case...
If they want to stop binge-drinking, ban spirits being sold in mixes, spirit coolers, cocktails etc…
Mark Richards14.05.2011 - So they don't sell spirits either I take it?
If they were that concerned, why not just limit the serving size? Or why not remove democracy and just turn into a communist nation, we're already half way there.Will14.05.2011 - Great blog. Prejudice towards beer definitely exists. I actually think cheap, plastic bottle ciders are more of a scourge... Jamie14.05.2011
- I find myself constantly thinking the same. Odd they don't prevent Buckfast etc. but beer is banned at the drop of a hat, not just that, they'll sell any crap on tap without any consideration. Francis14.05.2011