Something to Watch for...

[Michael]

We have all seen lately how there has been a call in NZ to reduce the overall alcohol consumption in the country. This seems to be largely because of drink driving, and teenagers hooning about. HOwever, their stratehy has been to raise taxes, and to make licensing more restrictive.

It appears the NZ strategy is directly in line with recommendations by the World Health Organisation. (WHO) Having said this, take note of one particular segment of WHO's statement..

Ten recommended target areas for policy options include health services' responses, community action, pricing policies and reducing the public health impact of illicit alcohol and informally produced alcohol.

http://www.who.int/mediacentre/news/releases/2010/alcohol_20100521/...

This seems to a strategy that in the long term may affect home brewers. We should keep an eye out for this, as it can affect all of us depending on how it plays out in the long run. In the US, it is actually illegal in a number of states to even give your home brew away to a mate. Imagine if there comes a time that home brew will be illegal, or that yeast will incur a high excise tax..

Just food for thought.

[Simon David kelly]

I can't help getting into a tampping rage after reading badly written scare mongering like that. Why do these organisations have to make the statements so broad as to cover the whole world. Could they not take a little extra time and give clear reference to where the issues are and to what extent.

It would also help if they actually clarified a few points on the consumption habits of the people who do abuse alcohol. Having a seriously alcoholic (recovered) brother I can testify that they don't do their drinking with fine wines, craft beers or aged whiskys. They buy, in his words, "cheep strong piss" and consume it all hours of the day.

For serious drinkers homebrewing is far too time consuming as an alternative to the cheap mass produced alcohol delivered by the large corporations. When the choice is $40 on ingredients and a three week wait, verses two cases right now I know which one my brother would choose.

Fortunately for those homebrewing in the states, work by the AHA has helped get the laws changed in some of those states to decriminalise homebrewing. Hopefully if the time comes, the likes of SOBA and the members here will be able to stave off any misguided attempts to criminalise homebrewing over here.

[JoKing]

Just criminalise the fermentation of sugar derived from Cane - we'll be safe then!

[Ian]

Nice lateral thinking Jo!

[Alelover]

Every time these issues are raised they focus on the minority percentage; what about the numbers of people who go out and consume alcohol responsibly and have a great time having benefited from a slight loosening of a stressful week at work or situation. Alcohol provides a lot of pleasure to a lot of people, but the minority as always put it in the bad spotlight. There are enough laws to cover most of the ill effects of alcohol in this country, if only the people who are supposed to apply them did their job then I am sure that the socially destroying effects would be reduced.Also IMO there should be a minimum cost to alcoholic drinks.

[Patrick]

They can have my fermenter - When they pry it from my cold, dead hands!