Tokyo beer has over 18%. Scotch whisky has over 40%. Let me try that again. Tokyo beer has over 18%. Scotch whisky has over 40%. Funny. The way you would read this quotation from BBC Scotland today would make you think that 18 is more than 40:

...Alcohol Focus Scotland chief executive Jack Law warned high alcohol percentage beer could cause as much damage as drinking to excess. "This company is completely deluded if they think that an 18.2% abv, (alcohol by volume), beer will help solve Scotland's alcohol problems," he said. "It is utterly irresponsible to bring out a beer which is so strong at a time when Scotland is facing unprecedented levels of alcohol-related health and social harm. "Just one bottle of this beer contains six units of alcohol - twice the recommended daily limit."

Six units? Hoots! Och!! The Nooooooo!!! Jings, crivens, sae help ma boab, even. Six!?!?

Last time it was the English Majors and their outrage at the use of language. Now it's all about the math. I trust that the same barrage of bombast is being leveled at the whisky trade in Scotland. Of course not. That would be madness. You see, the Scotch Whisky industry accounts for 1 in 54 Scottish jobs whereas BrewDog is bottling just 3,000 samples of this 18.2% version of Tokyo - barely a two week part time position in it for the national economy. Whisky represented a £2.37bn boost the Scots economy in 2006 while at £9.99 a bottle, Tokyo represents sales of only about £30,000. And Tokyo has 2.84 ounces of pure alcohol. That's as much as seven whole ounces of whisky! Yet whisky is sold in bottles (I hear) which can sometimes reach as many as 26 ounces. Given the facts - who would not be outraged at the dangers Tokyo poses?

By the way, I had the child's table 12% bottling at the holidays last December and loved it. Kept the bottle, too.