Booze News

Cosmonaut Demands Space Booze

MOSCOW — Russian cosmonaut Salizhan Sharipov, recently returned from space, says alcohol should be allowed on the International Space Station as it helps in coping with stress and enhances performance, a Russian news agency reports.

Sharipov was speaking at the first news conference organized after he, U.S. astronaut Leroy Chiao and Italian astronaut Roberto Vittori successfully completed their mission on the ISS. Sharipov said that it would be “desirable” for spacemen to have 50 milliliters of wine or cognac every day. “But only to improve our work, to better cope with the psychological stress,” Sharipov said.

 

MADD Greedy Bloodsuckers, Says Former Chapter President

LAS VEGAS — Another disgruntled chapter president of Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) has resigned from the organization. The outspoken Roz Cappiello says of MADD, “It is not like a non-profit anymore.” She objects to the fact that so much money goes into salaries and fringe benefits instead of reducing drunk driving.

Sandy Kaufman, another former MADD chapter President added, “MADD has become big bucks, and that’s it.” She emphasizes that “It’s a big corporation.”

Non-profit organizations typically permit their chapters to keep most of the money they raise. For example, Remove Intoxicated Drivers (RID) chapters get to keep 90% of all funds they raise. But MADD claims ownership of every penny raised by its many chapters. After raising $129,000 locally and turning it all over as MADD demands, the Las Vegas chapter received a check from the national office for $1.29 as its share. MADD’s “focus is on greed,” said Cappiello, who reported, “I’ve never seen such bloodsuckers!”

(www2.potsdam.edu/alcohol-info)

 

World’s Two Oldest Men Were Regular Drinkers

BERLIN — The world’s second oldest man has died at age 111. Born in Essen, Germany in 1893, Hermann Doernemann had a daily drink of alcohol and enjoyed good health until a week or so before his death.

The world’s longest-living man, Shigechiyo Izumi of Japan, lived for 120 years and 237 days and died in 1986. His favorite beverage was Shochu, an alcoholic drink distilled from barley.

The moderate consumption of alcohol (beer, wine or distilled spirits) is associated with better health and greater longevity than is abstaining.

 

Military Drinking Age Bill Proposed

MADISON, WI — A Wisconsin State Representative thinks the drinking age for those serving their country in the U.S. military should be lowered.

Representative Mark Pettis considers it “unconscionable” those adults age 19 and 20 can risk their lives defending their country but can’t legally have a drink.

The U. S. military recognizes 19 and 20-year-olds as adults and grants them great responsibility, including the command of others, the operation of complex and dangerous weapons, and the ability to make major split-second decisions.

Pettis proposes that a two-year pilot program be enacted permitting adults over 18 serving in the active military to consume alcoholic beverages. Lawmakers could then determine if young adults serving in the military are mature enough to drink in moderation legally.

If Wisconsin passes the legislation it could lose millions of dollars in federal highway aid, so Pettis says the bill wouldn’t become law unless the state could get a waiver from the government to protect that aid.

 

86s May Become Permanent in UK

LONDON — Aggressive drunks could be barred from all pubs and clubs in their home areas for up to two years if a new Big Brotheresque bill is passed.

Police will also be given the power to impose on-the-spot 48-hour alcohol bans on rowdy drinkers.

The measures were included in a wide-ranging Violent Crime Reduction Bill, which contained new curbs on the manufacture, sale and possession of knives, guns and imitation weapons.

The new “drinking banning orders”, ranging from two months to two years, could be imposed by a court on those found guilty of alcohol-related crime or disorder. They would be prevented from entering “certain areas and licensed premises” and could face a jail sentence of up to 51 weeks if they breach the order.

Hazel Blears, the Home Office minister, said the scheme was designed to prevent troublemakers “going into the town center and causing mayhem”.

She said: “This is very much more targeted at the people who maybe in their ordinary life are pretty well behaved but when they go out and binge drink, they turn into fairly unpleasant characters. They might be shouting, they might be encouraging other people, they might be part of the general fracas.”

 

Whiskey Kills Ennui, Cancer

GLASGOW — Single malt whisky can beat the threat of cancer, thanks to high levels of a powerful antioxidant that kills cancer cells, a medical conference in Scotland has been told.

Jim Swan, an independent consultant to the global drinks industry, says that according to research single malt whisky contains “more ellagic acid than red wine”.

Dr Swan has told the EuroMedLab 2005 conference that ellagic acid is an effective “free radical scavenger” that “absorbs” or “eats up” rogue cells that occur in the body during eating.

“The free radicals can break down the DNA structure of our existing cells, which then leads to the risk of the body making replacement rogue cancer cells,” he said.

“So, whether you indulge in the odd tipple, or you are a serious connoisseur,” Swan said, “whisky can protect you from cancer. Science proves it.”

 

Man Drinks $64,000 Worth of Scotch in One Night

LONDON — A businessman paid $64,000 for a rare Dalmore 62 Single Highland Malt Scotch Whisky at the Pennyhill Park Hotel in Bagshot, England, then drank it.

Only 12 of the bottles of the 1943 vintage scotch were ever produced. One bottle was sold at auction in 2002 for just under $52,000.

The Surrey hotel said the man bought the whisky and drank almost all of it in one night with some friends.

General manager David Broadhead would not reveal the identity of the middle-aged buyer, saying only that he was a regular hotel guest and a private collector of fine spirits.

“He’s not a famous person, you wouldn’t know him if you bumped into him in the street,” said Mr. Broadhead.

The Dalmore 62 is described as “a masterpiece forged from the Highlands of Scotland.” It was derived from four casks of single malt dating from 1868, 1876, 1926 and 1939. The 12 bottles have their own hand-printed labels and bear unique names.

A spokeswoman for Dalmore said she believed the bottle, named Matheson, was the first Dalmore 62 to have been opened and tasted by its owner.

The bar manager who negotiated the $64,000 price tag was lucky enough to be offered a glass and told Mr. Broadhead it was the “most beautiful thing” he had ever tasted.

Richard Paterson, master blender at the Dalmore Distillery in Ross-shire, Scotland, said he was glad somebody else had experienced the taste of the 62.

 

Abercrombie & Fitch Bows to MADD

NEW YORK — Responding to pressure from MADD and other neoprohibitionist groups, clothing designer Abercrombie & Fitch has withdrawn its line of T-shirts bearing drinking messages.

The horrifically irresponsible messages that drew the flood of outrage? “Don’t Bother, I’m Not Drunk Yet.” “I Give to the Pour.” “Filler Up.”

A MADD spokesperson claimed the pressure they brought to bear does not prove they are against drinking in general.

 

Alcohol Makes Brain Grow

STOCKHOLM — New research suggests drinking alcohol boosts the growth of new nerve cells in the brain.

Mice fed moderate quantities of alcohol grew extra brain cells, and also showed a preference for alcohol over water. The Karolinska Institute research appears in the International Journal of Neuropsychopharmacology.

Lead researcher Professor Stefan Brene said the extra cells might help with learning and memory. All of the new cells developed normally.

According to the researchers, the stimulated growth might be triggered by the tranquilizing effect of alcohol.

A spokeswoman from the Campaign for Real Ale said, “It is well known that alcohol in moderation is good for your body so it’s no surprise it’s also good for your mind. Maybe that is why lots of pub quiz teams are so bright.”