Mr. Darling's stealth sin tax

Those of us with the character flaws that lead us to smoke and drink were left out in the cold yesterday by the Chancellor's reduction in VAT to 15% as he increased alcohol & tobacco duty by the 2.5 percentage points necessary to offset the reduction in VAT. Anyone want to guess whether this increase is reversed when VAT rates go back up in a year's time? To quote the immortal Damon Runyon:

"The race is not always to the swift nor the battle to the strong -- but that's the way to bet it."

A bad idea on so many levels

Someone in the government's National Weights and Measures Laboratory thinks it might be a good idea if pubs should be able to serve up beer in 2/3's of pint. For starters what the hell would we call it? A two thirder?

And just a word of to the (ever helpful) bar staff at The Partridge if you try ever try to slip one of this by me it's heading straight back for topping up!

Today in Schadenfreude

Herman Taylor Jr. is a Maryland state legislator who put forward a proposal that all Maryland drivers convicted of driving under the influence of alcohol be issued with "DUI" number plates. He must be thanking his lucky stars that his proposal wasn't adopted now that he's been arrested for that very offence!

And for those who think I just pick on Repuli-con; Mr. Taylor is a Demon-crat.

Just in case anyone is worried...

...it is a lovely autumn afternoon here in Old Blighty; the sun is shining, there's a gentle breeze and it's about 17C. It is also Friday so I shall shortly be heading off to the pub garden to enjoy a pint of London Pride or ten.

Ah Friday!!!

Off duty? Tick!



Pint of Pride? Tick!

See you tomorrow!!

1,000 reasons John McCain shouldn't be President

Number 67: his wife is soon to be "earning" her considerable income as a Budweiser toting Communist fifth columnist!

This Stella's for you!!

I wonder if the takeover of Anheuser Busch by Belgian brewers InBev will mean America's favourite beer will eventually become drinkable. In any case I think Americans should be prepared for the purchase of more of the country's crown jewels by Europeans and others as the value of the dollar slips away into oblivion. I wouldn't worry about any of the car manufacturers being gobbled up though. After all who would want them.

1,000 reasons John McCain shouldn't be President

Number 56: if elected he is going to develop a drinking problem. Isn't it about time someone asked The Aged One what he is going to do about his wife's business interests should he be elected? Clearly she cannot remain in charge; actively or inactively.

Your Saturday Beer Quiz!

I scored 9 out of 10!

Good news for Cardinals' fans

If InBev takes over Anheuser-Busch maybe you'll be able to get a pint of Stella at newly renamed InBev stadium!

1,000 reasons John McCain shouldn't be President

Number 42: he's declared war on beer and that just won't do.

Do you want the good news or the bad news?

The good news is that they have found something that cuts the odds of developing rheumatoid arthritis by about 50%. The bad news is that, as it is drinking alcohol, it is unlikely to make walking any easier.

The real role of pure science

Clearly the billions and billions of US dollars, pounds, yen, rubles and yuan that have been spent on space research and exploration have not been wasted now that we will soon have space beer. Thank you Sapporo Breweries!

Why we must do something about global climate change

If we do nothing the British wine industry may be destroyed!

Good economic news!!

Diageo has announced that it plans to retain Dublin's iconic St. James's Gate Guinness brewery albeit on a much smaller scale.

Good things come to those who wait.

Welcome to the Boris years!

Our new mayor Boris "The Bozo" Johnson has woken up after his night of drinking in celebration of his glorious victory and decided to ban drinking on London's public transport*. But don't worry rugby union fans (and other assorted Toffs), I'm sure there's an exemption for champers on the way to Twickenham!

*I should note that I don't actually oppose this but I'm not sure it's the biggest problem London has. I guess he has to do something to reward his loyal supporters on the Evening Standard.

In which I offer an exremely mild restriction on gun ownership that even the NRA will love!

This story from Altoona PA in which a drunken man, armed with a gun, managed to shoot himself whilst trying to shoot bees (really - he was) set me to thinking. Would it be too much to ask that it should be possible to remove from an individual the "right" to carry weapons, possess weapons or live in a household containing weapons after they are found to be in possession of weapons (or at least found to have used weapons) whilst under the influence of alcohol* or illegal drugs? Surely no one could object to that could they?

*The drink driving standard could be used for those old enough to drink whilst zero tolerance should be imposed for illegal drugs and alcohol for the underage.

Today Yesterday in infamy - special Bier edition

Four hundred and ninety two years ago yesterday Germany first instituted the Reinheitsgebot and the rest is Oktoberfest!

Time for an anti-boycott!

Expect twisted right wing knickers over Absolut's latest ad campaign in Mexico. Well since it is Saturday perhaps this evening I'll have an Absolut and tonic and Cuban cigar (or two)!

"Sorry mate. You're barred."

A group of pub landlords are trying to engineer a campaign to see to it that Chancellor of the Exchequer, Alistair Darling, is barred from every pub in the land after he endangered that truly venerable British institution, a pint of real ale, with another crippling increase in beer duty in his latest budget. Well if I have to make a choice between Mr. Darling and a properly pulled pint of Britain's finest it really isn't a difficult choice!

I just love to watch participatory democracy at work