HOT TRUB
May 17,
2001
Edited by: Peter LaFrance (peter.lafrance@beerbasics.com)
Presented by: American Brewer & Distiller
===================================
Vol. 2 No. 20
This news letter will post items of special interest to brewers, members of the
brewing and distilling community, chefs and restaurateurs, and members of
the media that cover the beverage alcohol business.
Should you wish to contribute in any way to this venture please contact Peter
LaFrance at peter.lafrance@beerbasics.com
If you wish
to be dropped from this list please respond to this posting to peter.lafrance@beerbasics.com and include the word
remove in the Subject: line.
===============================================
The
Associated Press reports from their Washington, DC office that the Center for
Science in the Public Interest has once again reared it’s truly ugly and less
than unbiased head (not to mention it’s lack of true science rear).
According
to George Hacker, an attorney for the organization, ``Hard lemonades'' and
other fruit-flavored malt drinks meant for adults old enough to drink are
luring teen-agers.”
He
also had some kind words for the beverage industry, ``They may believe they are
targeting adults, but these products disguise the taste of alcohol and make it
easier to drink. They are intended as bridges to other forms of alcohol.''
The
group is releasing studies Wednesday of teens who say they are attracted to the
drinks. Some members of Congress are joining the center in calling for a
government crackdown on marketing that appeals to underage drinkers.
The
AP story goes on to reveal some truly shocking evidence, ``Many of those
products have bright, flashy and hip packaging and labeling that attract
teen-agers to the brands,'' said Rep. Eliot Engel, D-N.Y., in a letter to the
Federal Trade Commission.
In
a statement that reflects on the intelligence of his constituents Engel added
that many of the drinks, despite laws against sales to people under 21, are
often placed on store shelves next to ``look-alike, nonalcoholic fruit punches
and soft drinks.''
(The following is
presented in original format for your information.)
From:
Daniel Bradford [president@brewersadvocate.org]
Sent: Friday, May 11, 2001 8:35 AM
To: Peter LaFrance
Subject: Re: HOT TRUB V2 #19
Sure, love your comments.
--
Daniel Bradford, President
Brewers' Association of America
501 Washington St. Su. H
Durham, NC 27701
tel. - 919.530.8140
fax. - 919-530-8160
email - president@brewersadvocate.org
web - www.brewersadvocate.org
Greetings Dan,
Shall I include your observations - unedited - in the
next HT?
Let us remember that this is the same organization
that tells me that Chinese food is bad for me, and the Mediterranean diet
too... And I smell a tinge of neo-prohibitionism brewing (pun intended) here.
Cheers!
Peter
-----Original Message-----
From: Daniel Bradford [mailto:president@brewersadvocate.org]
Sent: Thursday, May 10, 2001 1:28 PM
Subject: Re: HOT TRUB V2 #19
Greetings:
Be sure you read the CSPI report carefully before you
report on it. It is policy by public relations. They are reporting
surveys of opinions not of behavior.
There are two separate issues here: First, is the
brewing industry behaving responsibly with respect to underage drinking?
Second, is it legitimate to criticize so-called “malternatives “ simply because
they are sweetened and flavored with fruit?
The brewing industry is opposed to all forms of alcohol
abuse, including underage dr inking. Through extensive responsibility
campaigns and the new emphasis on enjoyment of quality, the industry has played
a dynamic role in the continued decline in drunk driving fatalities and
underage drinking, both of which are at record lows. Also, the industry
works closely with Federal agencies on advertising, marketing and labeling
issues to insure our beers are enjoyed legally and responsibly.
Barley-based alcohol products with
sweet or fruity flavors added have been enjoyed by adults for centuries.
Today, the commercial varieties are called “malternatives: in other times and
cultures, they have included such mixtures as panaches, Belgian faros, syrup-laced
Berlinner weisse beers, and shandies. In recent times adults have
enjoyed wine coolers (which are based on malt) and sweetented ciders. The
recent decline in underage drinking and the ballooning popularity of wine
coolers actually began in the same decade.
Underage drinking is a family issue, not an advertising
issue. Important life decisions come from family and peer values, not
from advertising messages. Covering up the eyes and ears of our children
is not the best way to prepare someone for the critical decisions that they
will make throughout their life.
Each of us, as industry members, needs to advocate
greater attention to beer and alcohol education. Give our citizens the
information to make intelligent and safe decisions at home, in public and
throughout the community.
Daniel Bradford, President
Brewers' Association of America
501 Washington St. Su. H
Durham, NC 27701
tel. - 919.530.8140
fax. - 919-530-8160
email - president@brewersadvocate.org
web - www.brewersadvocate.org
This week at Beer Philadelphia we're scratching our head over
AMERICAN BEER MONTH APATHY
We gave eight-hundred-and-fifty-odd Beer Geeks and Geekettes two whole weeks to
offer some new and different suggestions for
American Beer Month acitivities in Philadelphia, and received only 5 answers.
This can mean only 3 things:
1) You are completely satisfied with American Beer Month in its current
chaotic-yet-inexcusably-lame state
2) You couldn't care less about American Beer Month
3) You didn't get the email
For those of you who fall into Category 3, allow me to recap last year's
excitement:
-- American Beer Month is announced shortly before it arrives
-- The Institute for brewing Studes (IBS) announces plans to hold a kickoff in
Philadelphia
-- Beer Philadelphia scrambles to arrange celebratory consumer events and
publicity for the opening weekend and throughout the
month of July: http://www.beerphiladelphia.com/events/nbm_00.htm
-- The Philadelphia Daily News prints a multi-page preview of American Beer
Month without any cooperation from IBS
-- 500,000 readers read it
-- Brewers from around the country assemble in Philadelphia and proceed to have
a disorganized industry circle jerk to the exclusion
of the General Public
-- No one cares, especially the press
-- Cross words are hurled at Yours Truly for gumming up the works
-- No one cares, especially the press
-- Beer Philadelphia and Samuel Adams team up for a blind tasting of American
beers vs. European beers
-- Lots of people care, especially the press
-- Monk's Cafe welcomes the visiting American brewers
-- They all drink Belgian beer
Visiting brewers and the IBS are threatening to invade our Greene Countrie
Towne again this year. Should we roll out the red carpet
or tell them to find some place that cares?
Am I wasting my time to schedule events in support of a group of brewers who
are reluctant to be in the same room as the hands
that feed them?
Is a bunch of sloppily-dressed brewers posing in front of a sculpture really
late-breaking news as we know it, or should CNN send the
camera crews somewhere else that day?
Do we really need these guys to confirm that we have a viable beer American
scene around here?
I'm interested to hear what you think. All opinions welcome, all emails
taken seriously.
Yur pal --
-- jim anderson
BevAccess
Announces Alliance With Eatec
BevAccess
recently announced an alliance with Eatec Corporation, a developer of
web-enabled management technology systems for restaurant chains, hotels,
stadiums and arenas, theme parks, cruise lines and airports. BevAccess recently announced plans to merge
with eSkye Solutions offering a national network of beverage
products and online services to retailers, distributors, suppliers
and control states. BevAccess will support beverage alcohol procurement
and data exchange for qualified Eatec customers, allowing them to access
product information and source their beverage alcohol products through
BevAccess' national network of beverage distributors.
NB: I worked at Beverage Media Group, the company's offline
division, and left there as senior editor after an almost three year run.
As I edited the above story my eye was caught by the headline to the next
story. The above notice serves warning that it is possible for beverage
publications to survive. I am not suggesting selling your publication to an
industry player. I am suggesting using tools that we might not feel comfortable
with.
A list of publications dedicated to
beer/brewing that have ceased publication. Gone but not forgotten and I thank
all of those mentioned for contributing to an industry that has yet to see its
best days.
Brewpub Magazine
Barley Corn
Southern Draft
Brew
Beer, the magazine
Brewing Techniques
HELLO OUT
THERE?
HOTTRUB is
nine months old.
It is
time to shake the tree and see who is still alive out there - It is mail-list-check
time.
To remain on the list for HOT TRUB please respond to this
newsletter.
If I could
get a head-count of:
___
beverage professionals,
___ food
service professionals,
___
journalists,
___
folks-who-just-follow-their- favorite-beer-on-the-web...
___ don't
really know why I'm here...
it
would help me focus on following stories that will keep
you as a subscriber.
... and I
thank you for your help.
Cheers!
Peter
LaFrance
PS: If you have a story to tell --- I am all
ears.
-30-