"Spykes is a predatory move to attract underage drinkers," Joseph Califano
Jr., chairman of the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse
Spykes is the perfect target for demonizing. It fits into the picture, presented by the forces for good, of an alcohol besotted teenage population staggering from one hook up to the next
The hysteria concerning youth alcohol consumption today is similar to the hysteria of the ‘60's about youth drug use. The National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse is one of a number of organizations seemly dedicated to return the Nation to the tea totaling days of Prohibition. They support the agenda of "forces for good in the community" busybodies who know what is best for everyone. Like the proponents of human caused global warming, or any other interest groups, their statistics bare scrutiny.John Law is looking at the new drink. The Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection has launched an investigation into Spykes advertising and licencing. "I am not accusing anyone of violating the Liquor Control Act, but do have a commitment to ensure that liquor products are being marketed to the right audience," said Commissioner Jerry Farrell Jr.
Spykes is not the first drink to come under fire. Five years ago it was Smirnoff Ice, Skyy Blue and Mike's Hard Lemonade, under fire from the CSPI, the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse and other critics, who claimed they promoted teenage drinking.
"Ya got trouble, - my friend, Right here, I say trouble right here in River City" today’s "Professor" Harold Hill is played by "Uncle Sam" and like any bureaucracy it is necessary to escalate the danger to escalate funding.
As a Nation with Puritan roots we always have had prigs like Bill Bennet, Bill O’Reilly, and Laura Schlesinger who eschew any form of pleasure. They stand today in the footsteps of the Carrie Nations of an earlier time. The Women’s Christian Temperance Union has been replaced by the federal Drug Enforcement Administration. Fighting pleasure is now a Federal responsibility.
It is the job of each teenage generation to scandalize their parents. Today’s generation is doing its job, perhaps too good a job, and scaring the bejeasus out of the older generation.
Although this, is not a good reason for America’s jihad against pleasure. Lawsuits are in the works, threatening Anheuser-Busch, if it does not pull Spykes off the market.
1 comment:
And you have to get pseudophed behind the pharmacy counter (and baking soda may be next!) The effort to "fix" society via legislation is not only doomed to fail, but dangerous; people put social causes above freedom, and look to the power of the state to create the "right" life. Where does it stop? Law suits are especially pernicious because we don't see the limits in what is available to us and what we can do since we don't know all the opportunities denied because someone was afraid of getting sued. And this seems to be getting worse every year.
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