Moral panic!

I just read a funny story at Brew Dogs blog. Apparently there has been some moral panic among politicians around their beer Tokyo* . It has an ABV of 18,2% and for some groups that is Satan in a bottle. Politicians and lobby group are trying to ban the beer in the UK. As a response Brew Dog has brewed Nanny State. A 1,1% beer with lots of hops. I just have to love that kind of humor, apparently the politicians didn't quite see the fun.

It seems to be two groups that are activelly working to ban the beer in the UK. Alcohol Aware and the Portman Group. The first group seems to be plain anti-alcohol, with topics like Drink Driving, Alcohol & Violence, Underage Drinking and so on... The second group seems to focus on social responibilities around alcohol. Maybe the two groups are more similar then that but the first feels a bit more unbalanced at a first glance. I tried to find their own statements in the matter but couldn't find it.

I've seen a similar moral panic in Sweden. Specially around the Swedish Championship in Homemade Beer. To make a long story short, the Peoples Health Department tried to stop the competition. But the result was that instead of having the SC in a pub, restaurant or similar establishment, where you can have a decent meal and pay for the sampling. You now have the SC in sports halls or similar buildings and the sampling is free (brewers share their beer with you). Good job PHD, I'm sure holding back home brewers and beer enthusiasts is a great way to preserve peoples health.

I've always wondered why these kinds of organizations feel a need to charge at the more serious parts of alcohol consumption. The people they are attacking are enthusiasts that take their beer seriously. I would be very suprised if there is a strong correlation with violence, underage drinking, drunken driving etc in these circles. In my experience most alcohol related violence happens around bigger clubs and pubs that stick to cheap lagers, ciders and different kinds of spirits. Underaged drinking in my experience happens around cheap lagers and spirits as well. Why charge at the one part of society that actually takes their drinking seriously? A beer like Tokyo* will most likely be drunk by someone that is very interested in it. Very likely that person will take notes, discuss it with a friend and/or eat a piece of chocolate or similar to go with the beer. What you won't see is a 14 year old boy pounding back 10 of these bad boys. Primarily because its an expensive and exclusive beer, but also since the taste is quite extreme and you need a certain palate to appreciate it.

The question also arises why a 18,2% beer is bad, but a 40% vodka is perfectly acceptable? Maybe it's not moraly right to brew anything stronger then a watered down 5% lager?

I guess none of the people at these kinds of institutions will read this, but at least I can rant a bit and get it off my chest. But if someone happens to stumble on it, I ask you this: Why don't you encourage a more serious view on alcohol instead counteracting it? Why don't you visit a festival and look for yourselfs with kind of people visit them? Open your eyes and go out in the world. Don't let ignorance ruin a good thing.

I think I've ranted long enough now. Cheers! I'm going to the pub to chug a couple of bottles of Tokyo*.