By Christopher McCollum

The L.A. Times reports on alcohol crackdowns in Baghdad.

With Saddam Hussein removed as the Dictator in charge of Iraq, hope was sprung for millions of people to enjoy freedoms that were unimaginable up to that point. People cheered, and savvy businessmen opened clubs and bars all around the downtown district of Baghdad. Alcohol flowed freely, and the people of Iraq had a real taste of the west. Unfortunately, militia activity began rising and pushing against alcohol, and many places stopped carrying it for fear of invoking the wrath of the Islamic extremists. Still, many brave business owners continued with the practice of selling alcoholic beverages to their patrons, and they seemed to endure through the hardships of insurgent violence, but even having succeeded in that environment, they are finding an even tougher challenge ahead.

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By Christopher McCollum

Time Magazine reports that Belgium is running out of beer, and it’s because of labor strikes over planned cuts of 800 jobs. Anheuser-Busch InBev, the world’s largest brewer, announced their plans to cut these jobs and have been met with fierce resistance all around the country for the past two weeks, as striking union members have blockaded breweries and set fire to paths leading in and out. No delivery trucks can pick up the untold thousands of gallons of beer that is stuck inside loading bays, and the brewing equipment itself is running dry as they are unable to get supplies.

Anger over the decision to cut jobs was increased as A-B InBev announced third-quarter profits soaring over $1.5B USD, and people are feeling that this is the ugly side of Capitalism. A-B InBev is taking the stance that they are a global company employing over one hundred thousand people around the world, and they must look after the best interests for the company. InBev bought out Anheuser-Busch in 2008, and in doing so, went heavily into debt. They are struggling to repay, and have already sold eight major theme parks in the United States. The workers in Leuven, Belgium, which traces their brewing back to the middle 14th century, have a greater concern for their families than for the Brazilian ran company’s debts. The striking workers have been so incensed, they have even taken several members of A-B InBev management hostage, while demanding to speak to executives within the company. The hostages were released without incident after 11 hours.

With A-B InBev owning over 200 brands of beer around the world, including several major brands in Belgium, one must wonder if global beer supplies will be effected by this strike as well. The bars in Belgium are reporting shortages, and pretty soon these shortages may reach the rest of Europe and the world. For those who love Stella Artois, Hoegaarden, and Leffe, now may be the time to begin stocking up, as there is no telling how long this strike could go on; As there is virtually no chance at saving their jobs, they may just camp out on the drives that lead in and out of the plants for several more weeks in order to spite A-B InBev, and put a wrench in the gears of what many people believe to be nothing more than yet another profit-over-people mega corporation.

Special thanks to Dwight Walker Jr. for contributing to this article.

By Christopher McCollum

In my previous ‘Diageo Dollars’ article, I wrote about Diageo departing Puerto Rico for St. Croix in the U.S. Virgin Islands, stirred on by their quest for greater profit margins. While that can be decried as being one of the evils of Capitalism, and the epitome of corporate greed, it must be remembered that one action can not condemn an entire group. Even though in Diageo’s case, many people think it’s actually two actions, as they closed down a 200 year old Johnnie Walker distillery in Kilmarnock, Scotland, as well as the grain depot Port Dundas, in Glasgow. Company restructuring aside, it could be easy for many people to view Diageo in a very negative light, thinking that they do not see the common man as anything more than a tool that can be discarded at the whims of whatever boss has monetary symbols in his or her eyes. However, it would be wise to take each action as it is, and remember that it does not reflect completely on the moral compass of those in charge of the company. Many actions over time can have the company begin to earn their reputation, but until that day comes, let’s also consider that terrific things can be done by those with the power and ability to do it.

For example, a couple of days ago, news broke that Diageo would be chartering a plane and sending relief supplies to Haiti, where they have part ownership in a brewery in Port-au-Prince. These supplies include medical kits, and 45,000 pounds of food that will reach tens of thousands of starving people who are still at this moment residing in the earthquake ravaged capital city. Many are still dying, adding to the potential total death toll of over 200,000 people. Food and water is still barely getting to the necessary places, and hopefully Diageo’s contribution will make it to the victims sooner rather than later.

The soft side of Diageo has been shown, and let’s hope that many others follow suit. The world is indeed a cruel place, but with the generosity of those who can manage it, it doesn’t have to be quite as cruel for some people.

The slogan of Buckfast tonic wine, made by Benedictine monks of Buckfast Abbey in Devon, UK, once read, “Three small glasses a day, for good health and lively blood.” Now, as the culture of consumption continues to grow out of control among the British youth, the brand has received a new unofficial slogan: “Buckfast, made by monks for drunks.”

This rather crude name (really one of many that also includes nicknames like “commotion lotion”)  entails a variety of things. Buckfast, selling at a mere £5.49, could be likened to many of the less expensive brands of wine on the market here in America that, due to having a fruity taste and higher alcohol content than beer and malt beverages can provide, become popular among inexperienced younger drinkers. However, there is concern growing among experts who, upon analyzing statistics that pertain to alcohol-related violence and criminal activity, have noticed a startling consistency that links to Buckfast consumption.

The British Daily Mail reports that “research at Polmont offenders’ institution in West Lothian reveals that more than 40 per cent of those who had consumed alcohol immediately before committing their crime had been drinking Buckfast.” The report continues, “But sales of the drink… have soared to £37 million in the past five years, with Scots spending more than £50,000 a day on it.”

Accepted at face value, the information presented in this study seems to make an obvious association between the consumption of the Buckfast brand and crimes being committed. However, why are other important factors involved, namely the age groups of those committing the crimes, not included as well? The fault in this argument becomes far more apparent once we delve deeper into the cultural factors which, as is so often the case, aren’t being well represented.

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By Christopher McCollum

It was reported several months ago that the producer of Captain Morgan Rum, Diageo PLC (NYSE: DEO), was going to be getting a new factory in the U.S. Virgin Islands, along with $2.7B USD in tax credits and benefits over the next 30 years, which sparked a bit of controversy as they are a British owned company. With this struck deal, Diageo will be moving the Captain Morgan operations from Puerto Rico, where they’ve been operating for generations, to St. Croix in the Virgin Islands, while potentially putting the rum culture in jeopardy.

Puerto Rican representatives claim that this business move will cost Puerto Rico about $120M annually in lost tax revenue, which at this point in time is an even harder pill to swallow than in the past. In March of 2009, Puerto Rico’s governor, Luis Fortuno, declared that the government there is bankrupt, with a deficit of more than $3B USD, making it the highest deficit-per-capita in the United States. Over the ensuing months, there have been plans implemented to lay off potentially 30,000 government workers, and to slash salaries across the board in an effort to save money. Union protests have been going on all over San Juan’s financial districts, and the unemployment rate on the Island of Enchantment will soar to potentially 17%.

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By Christopher McCollum

Tacoma, Washington based Cascade Regional Blood Services has implemented an innovative and popular plan for boosting blood donations from adult crowds in the region; Several local pubs are working with Cascade and offering a pint-for-pint program, in which blood donors will receive a ticket for a free pint of beer in exchange for a donated pint of blood drawn at that location. The plan, which has been picking up steam over the past 16 months, has been a resounding success, and the current spread of six bars that the blood-mobile visits will soon be expanded to eight, and presumably more in the future.

Surprisingly to some people, the plan has not invoked the criticism of alcohol-awareness groups, and even the teetotaling Mothers Against Drunk Driving organization has given it their cautious blessing, as long as Cascade and the bars involved abide by State laws, and confirm that blood donors being given the beer are of proper legal drinking age. Additional requirements set forth by the people involved make it a day-of ticket that donors receive, meaning that they must cash them in for their free pint in the same working day, but only after six hours have passed, presumably to give them time to get their blood level back up so the alcohol does not have quite as strong an affect.

Cascade and the bars they work with have a payment plan in place, in which Cascade pays the bar for each beer that is given away to blood donors, nipping in the bud any potential legal snafu that could result from completely free beer. Blood Centers have been using this technique to ramp up the popularity of blood drives for several years now, but Cascade appears to be taking it to a new level, and one could imagine that their success will inspire other Centers to do something similar. Perhaps Portland, Oregon and Asheville, North Carolina will be next. The Beer Cities, USA have been garnering much attention, and maybe it’s high time that some real positive action be a result of the increasing popularity in the breweries that inhabit these cities.

Across the United States, 38,000 blood donations are needed every day to save lives, and there are constant shortages in many locations. With a Portland Metro population of 2.1 million people, and Asheville Metro population of 408,000, we can probably safely assume that at least half of these populations meet the requirements given by Blood Book. Just imagine what good could come if people are given a beer incentive to donate blood in these two cities. Remember, the breweries would likely not be the same or as plentiful if there wasn’t strong local demand for it. Perhaps this is an… untapped demographic for Blood Centers, and hopefully we can see some Tacoma-inspired activity in the near future.

Cheers, my friends!

By Christopher McCollum

Government officials in North Carolina have decried the actions of local alcohol board administrators for living in a ‘Culture of Entitlement,’ and using public funds for lavish get-aways.

In what could be compared to the halcyon days of Frank Costello and the Teamster Unions, or just plain old government corruption, it has been revealed that the local administrators of the alcohol boards seem to be pocketing enormous sums of money generated from alcohol taxes, and none of it was visible on the State level. North Carolina is the only state in the country in which local ABC boards sell directly to the customers on a local level, and the State Alcoholic Beverage Control Commission has very little authority to exercise over them, since they are appointed and run by the county in which they reside.

In conjunction with governor Bev Perdue, the Control Commission is acting quickly, using their limited powers to reign in the local administrators potential corruption by closing down a law that allowed them to receive modest gifts from liquor companies. This was done in reaction to revelations that liquor companies were footing the bill for extravagant $300 lunches at the Charlotte Ritz Carlton, as well as the bill for a party that included $1,000 of 11 year old Dom Perignon Champagne.

Much of the hype in Raleigh has been attributed to the recent information that a father and son administrator tandem in Wilmington have been drawing over $400,000 a year in salary and bonuses, in addition to using tax payer money to fly to and stay in Arizona resorts that cost $300 a night, while renting a $200 a day luxury car.

Of the $700M worth of liquor sold last year, it generated $259M in taxes that went to state and local governments. $113M went to running the local stores, leaving the rather large sum of $146M to fund the Culture of Entitlement that is said to be enjoyed by these local administrators. Commissioner Chairman Jon Williams had this to say about it: ”Every dollar that comes into the ABC system in this state is a dollar that belongs to the public … the public’s money is not what is left over at the end. It is public the moment it is handed over the counter.”

Time will tell how extensive this use of taxpayer money is, as investigations are pending. Let’s hope that this isn’t a large scale case of alcohol funding corruption.

By Micah Hanks

Photo by Sanjay Acharya

At least as far as Californian wines go. In the present Californian wine market, the old standard, 12 % ABV, is out, with most wines from the West Coast raising their alcohol count by a percentage point.

According to experts, this is due to a bolder, richer “fruity” taste that has become the preferred norm. In order to achieve this, the use of sweeter grapes is paramount; hence, more sugars are used as well, leading to production of more alcohol during the fermentation process.

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By Christopher McCollum

Fresh news out of Russia indicates that Dmitry Medvedev is at it again, with the Kremlin raising the Vodka tax in Russia by nearly 100% for the New Year, and some people are supposedly rumbling that the Vodka industry will be Nationalized, all in an effort to curb the high alcohol-related death rates that have plagued the nation for the better part of the past century.

Reuters reports that this new effort to combat alcoholism also includes heavy excise duties on Beer, and there are also plans on the table to restrict when and where Beer can be purchased. This new legislation was engineered to come into effect right now, in the midst of Russian Orthodox Holiday celebrations which last the first week and a half of January, and is ridden with rampant alcohol use. The threat to institute duties on Vodka is also being discussed, and there also lies the possibility that Medvedev will follow in Mikhail Gorbachev’s footsteps by ordering cuts in the production of wine and spirits. If that happens, then it’s easy to assume that bootlegging will also pick back up, as it did in 1985 when Gorbachev issued his prohibitive order.

Medvedev has shown a prohibition stance in the past, and we started warning on Culture of Spirits back in October that he was soon going to be taking steps to slow the alcohol industry down in his country. It has finally happened, a few months later, and now we are left to see what the future holds in the Motherland of Vodka.

If Medvedev is determined to follow in Gorbachev’s footsteps, then we will be keeping an eye on the Russian news services, to track the number of deaths related to dirty bathtub Vodka. Additionally, one must wonder where the taxes from these hikes are going to be going, and we can only hope that they go to educating the populace on alcohol consumption and dependence. However, if the Kremlin undergoes a massive new remodeling, let’s see if we can track down where the funding comes from.

Our friends over at the Liquor Snob website have recently been lamenting the shortage of Angostura bitters, the popular brand of herbally-infused flavor supplement, which so many of us favor in our drinks. Below, we’ve quoted the words as they exit the horse’s mouth:

We know there are all kinds of bitters out there to use in our cocktails, but we have to say we’re sort of used to using Angostura. For those who don’t pay attention, Angostura is the bitters you commonly get at your local bar in your cocktails…pretty much all of them. We’ve complained about this before, but we can’t seem to buy them anywhere.

Why the shortage? The official sources we can track down say the plant has closed down temporarily, but we heard a rumor that the employees are on strike. Bitter bitters workers? Say it ain’t so, and just bring us back our Angostura before we have to fly to Trinidad to get ‘em…though that doesn’t sound so bad either with all the snow we’re getting in VT.

Glad to say that, in addition to back-stocking Angostura bitters in our private COS bar, we here at Culture of Spirits have enjoyed receiving samples of other bitters this year, namely those provided by the Urban Moonshine company out of Vermont. Their unique varieties of bitters (which feature a “standard” bitter, as well as maple and citrus flavors), paired with our extensive stockade of the Angostura variety have kept us from losing our proverbial minds, in spite of the “cabin fever” that has beset so many of us here in Appalachia.

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