John Barleycorn Must Die!

Nick Gillespie | October 19, 2004

Or at least be very clearly warned not to exceed "three to four units [of booze] a day for men, two or three for women".

That's according to new warning labels on hooch being introduced by Brit brewer Scottish and Newcastle. Except that the labels are not warning labels (got that? have another three or four units--or two to three if you're a woman--and it'll all make sense, really [hiccup]):

Scottish and Newcastle told the BBC the move did not amount to a health warning, but was the result of a decision to provide the consumer with more information.

The decision comes in the light of growing bad publicity about the UK's binge drinking culture.

It is likely the rest of the country's brewers will follow suit.

And don't sweat it--the new bottles will let you know how many "units" they be.

Can't we just skip to what will someday be known as the Joe Jackson label: Everything Gives You Cancer: No caffeine, No protein, No booze or Nicotine.

[A tip o' the glass to Neil Hrab!]

Comments

raymond|10.20.04 @ 5:56AM|#

In my opinion, it's quite useful to know how much of a product will put one in a state of not being able to use one's ability to choose.

Steven Horwitz|10.20.04 @ 8:22AM|#

Gotta love a Traffic reference. I have "Low Spark of High Heeled Boys" on the desk in front of me this morning.

|10.20.04 @ 8:34AM|#

Am I the only one one that carefully reads the fineprint on my pack of cigaretts every time before I'm about to smoke them? And the toaster, I was almost going to throw it in the bathtub, but then read the warning on the product guide. Cant tell you how many mornings I have walked out the door with my socks on over my shoes because the socks didnt come with an instruction manual.

|10.20.04 @ 10:31AM|#

Is there something un-libertarian about a company voluntarily providing their customers with information about the use of their product?

It would be nice if you would stop opposing things based on who you suspect might be for it, but I'm not holding my breath.

Kevin Carson|10.20.04 @ 11:49AM|#

joe,

My God! You're channeling thoreau!

Kevin Carson|10.20.04 @ 11:50AM|#

(But I agree entirely).

|10.21.04 @ 1:05AM|#

Is there something un-libertarian about a company voluntarily providing their customers with information about the use of their product?

No, but the damned gubmint regulators so beloved by the likes of American League Champion Boston Red Sox-fan joe have stopped manufacturers and vendors from self-labeling, on the grounds that if the label isn't specifically mandated and approved by FDA or whoever it will be inherently misleading. Remember the fight over whether dairies or groceries could label milk as coming from cows not administered BGH?

It is a lovely fix. Put your own warning on, and the Feds scream at you that it isn't official. Leave it off, and the personal injury lawyers come at you because some idiot used a powered plumbers' snake to clean the wax out of his ears.

Kevin

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