Struggles in new wine label guidelines

[Thomas]

I was in Italy recently and noticed that political correctness has reared its ugly head in Europe--anti alcohol is an indication.

In the late nineteenth century the Europeans had a small prohibition movement just like America did, but ours grew bigger (as Americans always seem to like more of anything). This time, it seems, prohibitionists are taking on all fronts.

The label question is an incredible example of semantics over truth and reasonableness. What the antis call "health labelling" is merely an attempt by the wine industry to get people to go and read some of the available reserach data concerning moderate alcohol consumption. What the government has, and wants to maintain, is at the least an anti "health label" and at most downright mis-information.

Unfortunately, these things seem to go in pendulum swings and we are swinging well to the nasty right on this and other life-style issues. Everyone, including politicians, seems always to know what everyone else SHOULD do.