This is more than a little ridiculous. The label is actually a reproduction of an 1895 advertising poster, and the wine has been sold in Alabama for the past three years.
"We've never had complaints from any of the 49 other states in the U.S. or the 20 countries around the world where Cycles Gladiator is sold," Leigon said Friday afternoon. "And in the great state of Alabama it was fine for three years."
The wine debuted in 2006, when its label won accolades from the annual American Graphic Design Awards, he said. It was sold in Alabama from that time up until this month, apparently without incident, Leigon said.
Alabama law has this to say about what is and isn’t permissible:
"No advertisement may include any illustration(s) of any person(s) consuming alcoholic beverages or any person(s) posed in an immodest or sensuous manner, nor shall any advertising contain profanity or offensive language."
Personally, I think the label is fine. Nothing wrong with it. In fact, it’s eye-catching and memorable… things a wine label must be in this day and age to sell. And in my personal opinion, I think today's opinion may well be in violation of first amendment protections of free speech. Note that the section of law quoted above applies ONLY to the ABC board... I wonder if it's ever been challenged in court as an unconstitutional limitation on free speech?
So once again Alabama shows itself firmly mired in the dark ages of morality. (sigh) I know change is a long and slow process, but this is ridiculous!
Might want to look at the ads in the current ABC Price List, lets see, one features a man in bunny suit playing cards with two ladies in their lingerie, another features a bikini clad woman with slogan "grab the melons".
ReplyDeleteHowever, give it time, remember when you had to ask for a bottle by number, not brand name and size and everything was behind the counter?
I actually agree with PA for once. It must be a cold day in hades...
ReplyDeleteAlabama is so bass ackward, it's pitiful.
Here's the thing guys...its the contents that matter...not some stupid label. If you guys are buying booze because of fancy labels...you got issues.
ReplyDeleteTo be kinda honest..naked ladies on a beer or wine...just don't help me in the selection process. Now....if you had Coach Bear Bryant or maybe some corn stalks...that might be different.
Well, Seeker, don't panic. (grin) All you need is quick shot from your Obama-doc, and you'll be right as rain. Of course, you'll have to wait a week for the shot...
ReplyDeleteWhy should the State have any control over label design? It is an unecessary level of control.
ReplyDeleteI agree completely, Winelabels. I have, in the past, actually indulged in the home hobby of making wine... not all states outlaw the making of home wine/beer for your own consumption like Alabama does, and I have not always lived in Alabama. (grin)
ReplyDeleteBut you have to understand how Alabama's laws are structured. The ABC controls completely the manufacture, importation, and sale of alcohol in this state. They also run ABC retail outlets to sell the booze, which is why we have so few privately run liquor stores in the state. Personally, I think that's an example of unfair competition with private enterpise... ABC retail outlets can undersell private stores, because the private owners have to pay for ABC's profit BEFORE they sell it to us! Those auomatic higher prices mean fewer customers, so many fewer privately-owned stores.
Yes, it is unnecesary, but it is what it is. the State will never change direction, in my opinion, because of the money to made off of liquor sales.
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