Saturday, December 2, 2006

No Santa Beer in Maine

I saw this story in the headlines of my homepage. It appears that the Shelton Brothers in Belchertown Mass. wanted to produce a beer called Santa's Butt. It's label depicted the jolly old elf sitting on a barrel with his backside facing the viewer enjoying a beer.

Maine State Police Lt. Patrick Fleming states that the state has the right to refuse labels put on beers and alcoholic beverages that are inappropriate or might appeal to children. I might point out that there were several other wine labels that were deemed inappropriate because they had labels depicting "bare breasted women" on the labels, even though the labels were copies of famous artworks.

I guess I'm wondering how many children in Maine drop by the beer case and see what brands they have? Even if they saw it, don't they have ID laws in Maine? Wouldn't the parents explain that beer is for adults? Or is it the idea that Santa even enjoys such beverages that makes it inappropriate?

I know we are supposed to protect our children and all, but can't they leave some decisions to the parents of children? This just got me to wondering is all. And by the way, the Shelton Brothers says that the "Butt" part comes from an old English term. It seems that in older times in England, people would store beer in big barrels they called "Butts".

Just another day in the news lol. Till next time BYE!!

4 comments:

Heather in Beautiful BC said...

I'd like to go to Maine for a "Santa's Butt Beer" - what creative marketing!

Michelle said...

Didn't you know, there is no parental responsibility anymore? Apparently, parents merely rely on society to raise their children - otherwise, beer labels, cigarette labels, commercials and anything else that the government feels the need to censor wouldn't be banned because of the pictures, etc.

This is something that has bothered me for a while. The whole Columbine thing was everyone else's fault but the parents of the two kids. Everything is everyone else's fault, but the parents. It's annoying really.

Empress Bee (of the high sea) said...

hey mike..... so good to be home and have internet too! yeah.... be back later to read more, just a quick run through now. bee

Jeni said...

Sometimes the lengths people will go to protect children - also adults - is just a tad far fetched you know. My opinion, that's all it is there.