Keep Your Religion Away From My Alcohol!

Posted on 14 April 2008 under Food In The News, Michigan Cuisine, Wine | 10 Comments

I probably risk losing readers with this one, but frankly if your opinion differs, feel free to let me know in a comment. Open and honest discussion is a cool thing. Oh, in the image to the left is a bottle of Pear and Its Spirit, a wonderful pear brandy from Black Star Farms Bed & Breakfast up in Suttons Bay, Michigan.

I’ve been a fairly open supporter of April being designated as Michigan Wine Month. As May July is also Michigan Beer Month … yeah, just keep this going! Maybe June can be Michigan Hard Liquor Month … with July maybe being Michigan Cherry Vodka month just for good measure …

 

I’m a good German-Lutheran, enjoying a good stout or draft now and then. I don’t drink much at all — truth be known, a six-pack of beer might actually last me a month or two. I love the flavor, the body, the heartiness of a good beer. I cook with wine, I drink it on occasion, I enjoy going to wine dinners at restaurants. A few years ago my dad and I finally drank together, having a couple shots of whiskey each while watching one of his favorite western movies. Yes, I go to a Free Methodist church regularly, and also drink moderately with those friends when the time is right.

Today the CBC reported on a new wine trail in Alabama … and the problems that have arisen. From the article:

A trade association and a tourism group came up with the Alabama Wine Trail to lure visitors to the state’s eight wineries, which produce everything from fruity muscadine and peach wines to more traditional varieties such as Merlot and Chardonnay … “We are on record as being opposed to any kind of alcohol-related industry,” said Rev. Robert Griffin, moderator of the Chilton Baptist Association and pastor of Highland Baptist Church in Clanton. “I would support visiting old, historic churches, but as far as visiting wineries …” Alabama law limits home wine production to five gallons (about 20 litres) at a time, and Beadles said his Alabama Wineries and Grape Growers Association hasn’t been able to get much support for increasing the cap for hobbyists … “We have such a Bible Belt population that when you say you’re going to increase production … in this state they think there will be a drunk in every house,” [Lee] Beadles said. “There are a lot of people in this state with wine in their closets.”

What a load of crap.

The Bible itself is laced with alcohol usage, from celebrations in the Jewish temples to Christ himself turning water into wine. The southern Baptists need to get a grip on reality. It’s seriously unfortunate for other Christians to end up being lumped in with rule-makers like these who haven’t a clue about anything but their wanting to control the actions and interests of others.

What if the wineries wanted to have dancing? Oh the humanity!

Maybe I’ll just pray for the southern Baptists to receive common sense. They seem to be in real need of it.