The reaction has been interesting to the idea of BBADD. From those in the trade, there's a reluctance to look anything like MADD or to discuss the negatives related to craft beer. That makes sense. No one, at least as a first reaction, wants the product they depend on for a living to be associated with controversy. But I don't depend on a product. I am on the other side of the deal, a craft beer consumer. The reaction from other consumers has been the opposite from the trade. For them, it's a good idea and one that should be discussed. Let's see how that plays out as we go along. Early days and, you know, I am not going to turn this into A BBADD Beer Blog or anything but I do want to explore the idea a bit without being on one hand preachy or on the other a chicken little.
More importantly, Grant from ThirstyMates.com cleaned up the logo. Much better. Let me know if you paste it at your place. Grant also wrote a post last May about how he agreed with Ontario's new increased licensed suspension penalties and how it's in line with his concept of personal responsibility. You may have a different take but have a look.
Comments
Amy - July 23, 2009 4:54 PM
Alan, Your two posts have been very interesting. I have written a longer response on my own blog. Historically the beer industry supported and helped fund MADD. In my own experience of reading beer blogs it seems that they are the most vehemently opposed to any attempts to acknowledge or deal with the negative health consequences of alcohol abuse.
Alan - July 23, 2009 5:39 PM
Good comments. I like this bit:
Historically... the brewing industry tried very hard to work with and help fund MADD and other neo-temperance organizations. While the USBA still existed they were very careful to not express an opinion on the minimum drinking age and were totally supportive of MADD’s efforts to reduce drunk driving. The Beer Institute, successor to the USBA, has pretty much followed this line. The larger brewers organizations generally save their energy for fighting taxes increases and any attempts to restrict their abilities to market their products. I have been reading beer bloggers for about three or four years and it is my observation that beer bloggers, who are sometimes also home brewers, are the most vociferous in their complaints about neo-temperance activities. I think Alan will have an uphill battle promoting BBADD"
I must live on an incline as not only do I not see it as a battle but quite an interesting opportunity - perhaps if only to suggest that being anti-BBADD must really about something else.