November 30, 2006
New York enlists in War on Christmas
Who would have guessed that the TABC's reputation for heavy handed stupidity is not unrivalled?
A New York beer distributor has received word by telephone that the New York State Liquor Authority will not allow six beers with cheerful holiday-themed labels to be sold in the state this Christmas season. The SLA representative explained that the labels could not be approved for sale because Christmas imagery would “appeal to underage drinkers.” The banned beer labels are:
• Santa’s Butt Winter Porter (depicting Santa enjoying a pint atop a large barrel, or ‘butt,’ of beer) • Warm Welcome Nut-Browned Ale (depicting Santa arriving to a fiery welcome at the bottom of the chimney shaft) • Very Bad Elf Special Reserve Ale (depicting a wayward elf celebrating Christmas a little too early) • Seriously Bad Elf English Double Ale (depicting the same elf taking aim at Santa and his sleigh with a slingshot) • Criminally Bad Elf Barley-Wine-Style Ale (depicting the intractable and belligerent elf finally behind bars) • Rudolph’s Revenge Winter Ale (a straight-on cartoon portrait of the famous red-nosed reindeer)
Shelton Brothers, importers of the beers, have retained an Albany attorney, George Carpinello, of Boies, Schiller & Flexner, to seek a court ruling overturning the SLA’s decision. George Carpinello was the lead attorney for the plaintiff in the case of Bad Frog Brewing Co. v. New York State Liquor Authority, which culminated in 1998 in a decision by the federal Court of Appeals holding, among other things, that the brewery’s First Amendment right to use the label image of its choosing could not be infringed by the SLA on the tenuous assumption that the image would appeal to younger people.
Posted by mayor mcsleaze at November 30, 2006 08:08 PM
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Comments
Those lousy bastards! Where is Bill OReilly when we need him on the front lines fighting the war against Christmas?
(probably crapping in his pants)
Posted by: John cobarruvias at December 1, 2006 05:02 AM
This is just unacceptable! Kids need to have drinks, too!
Posted by: mcblogger at December 1, 2006 01:00 PM
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