Really conflicted here… If the goal was to crack down on sexist beer labeling, I applaud the effort. However, the language in the code states:
So, this is really a crack down on using “adult themes” to advertise an adult beverage. At least to me, It appears to be more of a prudish ban on sex, rather than sexism.
This isn’t really a question. It’s a round about way of suggesting that my opinion is not valid, and is instead driven by a desire to be offended.
That IS a dismissal. You did not expressly use the words “raging bitch”, I did. Because when men call women “raging bitches”, they are dismissing the woman’s feelings and expressions of those feelings as invalid, or “looking to be offended.”
I have no idea why you seem to have taken my entire statements personally, but good luck with whatever resolution you are seeking. Good day.
I think as in all things its that there’s not neccisarily anything wrong with a few raunchy jokes or pinups on a label. Its a combination of the precise expression and its pervasiveness. When so many beer labels feature supposed sexy images of ladies, raunchy non-jokes, etc. And a good proportion of them are pretty negative towards women (and in a really narrow and specific way). It creates an overall impression that’s pretty bad. And an environment that’s not exactly welcoming to ideas that are in the same vein but in another direction. Like I don’t know how many craft beer stores are gonna get excited about stocking limited edition hot guy bottles. MEANWHILE places like Walmart will absolutely refuse to carry any of these beers, negatively impacting craft and independent brewery market share. Boobs on the label is smart at business!
Even something like Raging Bitch isn’t going to stand out as a problem until its sitting on a shelf next to 30 bottles with the same damn pinup in revealing liederhosen and sexualized names.
The high school students working at my restaurant all drink craft beer and craft cider (or “craft” they’re mostly the ones own by InBev).
Incredible that you can say that given the words you have written.
Charmed.
And which craft brewers would that be?
I am an avid craft beer drinker and i immediately take a pass on breweries that seem like they’re trying too hard to pander to their audience. I’ve seen the Clown Shoes brews and never had any inclination to pick one up, there’s a few others that like using very colorful labels that also make me suspicious. The beers may be good but i like beers that are genuinely interesting and seeing labels with good classic designs or a good clean look is what determines i try them out if i’m not familiar with them.
I don’t think you’re a monster. I do think that you are comfortable with the way things are because you enjoy it (see your favorite label above) and you have no comparable experience to draw from or any desire to imagine what it might be like to be on the other side.
But you aren’t a monster.
Oh nice. Thank you for correcting me and telling me how I am supposed to view myself. an educated monster I am now.
Its vagueish. But this has been a an ongoing problem in craft brew. Even as the category peels off market share from your beer conglomerates. From the industry associations standpoint gaining market share is all about getting into national chains, big stores. So your “adult themed, adult beverage” needs to be stocked next to bread at Walmart. Near the soda in Piggly Wiggly. Applebees needs to be willing to print the logo and feature the labels in their on table promotions and menus. Your sign needs to be able to go into the front window of the beer distributor in place of the Corona palm tree.
These companies won’t do that. And in many cases won’t carry the product at all if its labeling is crass or over sexualized. Aside from the PR problem created by so many companies having such shit labels and defending them very poorly. That is the industry association’s concern. So the wording needs to be vague enough, and punishment light enough (and connected directly to the marketing/PR concerns) to allow for some level of variation, even sexy variation, in labeling. But specific enough and harsh enough to prod more brewers to abandon this style of labeling.
For me i would say no i am not particularly offended by the women or lewd language on beer labels, but i do find them very tiresome. Though at the end of the day nothing is being disallowed here, what the brewers association is doing is if a brew has any of those elements they ask that the maker of the beer refrain from adding any mention of the association because otherwise it makes it seem like they are indirectly endorsing that kind of imagery/marketing. The brewer is free to sell as many of said sexualized beers as they want.
You know what, have a beer on me. Put up your feet and relax. I can’t change your mind, and I don’t want to.
No thanks. I only like Stouts and Porters, I am not a pale ale fan.
From the beginning you chose to assume what my mindset has been the entire time. That’s fine. I never labeled you a raging bitch nor thought it in anyway shape or form. Yet you railed with nothing but offense taken at me for doing so. You have in fact labeled me some callous dismissive misogynist. Thanks for that.
I was in my local supermarket just last week and started a conversation with the stockperson in front of the beer cooler about the suggestive labeling. We agreed beers like “Raging Bitch” and some others along those lines were probably best not to have on view due to young children in the store who wouldn’t understand but, he was somewhat OK with the graphics himself. However, he then proclaimed himself to be a ‘christian’ and strongly objected to “Sweet Baby Jesus” labels. I asked if he’d ever tried the beer and he said something along the lines of: “absolutely not! That would be blasphemy.”
Is it sexist? It can be deemed to be yes…but is it? I don’t think it is
Sorry, but this is a blatantly sexist image. You not thinking so doesn’t change that. And I say that as a man who loves pinup imagery and has an incredibly tolerant wife who indulges me on that. The images I love are sexist, pure and simple, and to deny that is to try and justify away your enjoyment of them.
Me personally, I can see the point of having this conversation and encouraging them to change. Yes, I like the imagery… but my enjoyment of the imagery does not preclude my being able to understand how it would offend someone else. And the imagery is totally not needed to sell the product if it tastes good. The wife and I constantly try new brands to see what we like, without regard to the label imagery.
Never heard of that Sweet Baby Jesus beer but if they stocked it here i would try it out of amusement. My brewer of choice does have some beers that may seem a bit offensive, mainly their Arrogant Bastard ale and variations that they do of it. I don’t care too much for it compared to their other beers, but i do see it stocked in many places. Even grocery stores.
Coincidentally i plan on buying their giant Double Bastard ale this weekend for my bday. I’ve had my eye on it for almost a year now (not my picture)
Where are you/them?
I assume not the US because that is illegal and one wouldn’t dare do it at a restaurant they own in the US, because that is how you lose your liquor license and most of your profit.
Assuming it isn’t the US, then they have a whole different approach to drinking than kids in the US. Underage drinking in the US is for one thing - to get drunk. It is less about enjoying a beverage, it is a means to an end. Part of this is because of culture, part of this because they can’t legally just chill with a beer and so there is no point in casual drinking yet. If you are going to risk it, risk it for a buzz.
Combined with this and the fact underage drinkers are generally poor, they are going to get the cheap stuff, generally, Maybe yuppie kids can afford the microbrews. Hell, some of them probably even are young hipsters and drink for pleasure, vs getting drunk. But I am going with the “drinking to get drunk” stereotype as those are the actual problem underage drinkers.
Ciders are a different breed. Them and wine coolers make drinking easier/fun.
Q: What if said design was by a woman? Is the simple statement alone offensive, or the meaning one assigns to it?
I have no idea in that case, but the pin up style art, and the vulgarity is a common theme in a female friend of mine who does jaw dropping amazing pin striping and retro style art (think rock-a-billy, classic cars, pin up, and other throw back styles.)
I could totally see her doing art with those words in a fancy scroll with text underneath.
Honestly I see both sides of the coin here, but I am not a drink so I don’t really have a dog in the fight. They could just be white labels that say “beer” and it would affect me none.
I am absolutely 100% sure it is sexist in someone else’s eyes. I just don’t consider it something that I take offense to. I said I don’t really care one way or the other on the subject to put a line in the sand on it. If someone else wants to champion it…go for it.
when does “raging bitch” refer to an actual dog?
