This weekend the Seattle Times and Spokesman Review reported that Washington State is experimenting with a program allowing grocers to offer samples of beer and wine. Clearly there are mixed responses.
As much as I respect Maureen Walsh’s position, I wonder what she means by this:
“Wine is a legal product,” said Rep. Maureen Walsh, R-Walla Walla. “And if we quit putting such a stigma on that, maybe our kids, when they grow up, would not think that it was such a great thing to have alcohol.”
Anyone who knows anything about marketing knows that scarcity breeds desire. (Huge generalization?) Walsh is from wine country. She’s been here to see it develop. And if she’s been watching, she’ll have observed that wine drinking — even for the younger drinkers — can be quite civilized. If her goal is to turn people away from alcohol, free samples may not be the best method. However, as a response to the arguments that these samples will cause public drunkenness and debauchery, degrading the foundations of an already fragile and depraved society, I think she has a point. Lift the stigma. If we could be a little less uptight about wine (and beer), it wouldn’t be such an easy weapon for adolescent rebellion.
I say, lighten up.
I’m interested to see how Senate Bill 5751 will fare.
For the full article, see Food & wine | Grocers might offer taste of wine, beer | Seattle Times Newspaper.
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AGREED!
We were just having this discussion in the office… And not to beat a horse, that if not dead is at this very moment in danger of expiring, look at the rest of the world. Various countries with lowered alcohol age limits, and then look at the alcohol-related crime rates in those countries as well. I’m sure most people will see a connection…