Petition grows against beer glass ban snobbery

9 February 2007

Petition grows against beer glass ban snobbery

Beer connoisseurs are rallying on-line to protest against a decision to ban glasses at the Blenheim Blues, Brews and Barbecues event while still allowing much flimsier glasses at the Wine Marlborough festival.

An on-line petition protesting the discrimination against beer drinkers has quickly gathered several hundred signatures but organiser and local beer expert Geoff Griggs is hoping for many more.

“We need to send a message to the authorities in Marlborough that it is not acceptable to treat beer as a second class beverage to wine. Both drinks taste better out of glass. Either both festivals should be allowed to use glass, or neither. There is no justification for singling out beer,” says Mr Griggs.

One explanation given by Blenheim police is that beer glasses could potentially be used as weapons. However, there is no evidence this has ever happened. By contrast, The Marlborough Express reported details of an assault with a wine glass after the 2004 Marlborough Wine Festival. “The evidence actually suggests that beer drinkers are at least as responsible as their wine drinking counterparts,” he says.

A second argument being used is the amount of broken glass produced. In reality, the festival beer glasses are sturdier and better balanced than the wine glasses so are less likely to break. “The beer festival is clearly being singled out for special restrictions because of sheer snobbery and stereotypes about beer drinkers,” says Mr Griggs.

The Society for Beer Advocates (SOBA) – a nationwide consumer’s group promoting quality beer “for all the right reasons” – has thrown its weight behind the campaign. President Luke Nicholas says SOBA was created to help improve the image of beer in New Zealand.

“Beer can be a complex and beautiful beverage. Some of the beers being served at Brews, Blues and Barbeques are among the best in the country. The brewers shouldn’t be discriminated against because a couple of people have a pre-conception about what type of person drinks beer. A rational approach to the issue would see the two festivals treated equally,” says Mr Nicholas.

“SOBA members have already been signing the petition but I encourage every one who knows that good beer should be drunk from the glass to sign the petition now” he says.

The petition is on-line at: http://www.petitiononline.com/SOBA0701/petition.html

ENDS

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