Brookston Beer Bulletin

Jay R. Brooks on Beer

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Beer In Ads #622: Budweiser Ski Threesome

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Tuesday’s ad is for Budweiser, from 1949. This one is part of their long-running “there’s nothing like it …” series. But the story that the illustration tells is a bit ambiguous. A couple is relaxing by the fire, their eyes fixed on another woman, just coming in from the ski slopes. But look closely. There are exactly three, not two, full glasses of beer. She was expected. Is this a seduction scene? Or is it merely my overactive imagination? Personally, I think the answer is all in the eyes. What do you read into their expressions?

Budweiser-1949-skiing

Moderate Elderly Beer Drinkers Less Prone To Dementia

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health
The Foundation for Alcohol Research (ABMRF) recently highlighted a study that appears to show that elderly persons who drink moderately are at a lower or reduced risk of “cognitive decline or dementia and provide cardiovascular benefits.” The study, Alcohol and Cognition in the Elderly: A Review, was published in Psychiatry Investigation. Here’s ABMRF’s report of the study:

Alzheimer’s disease and other types of dementia are most common in the very elderly, and are associated with huge health costs. With a rapidly aging global population, factors influencing the risk of cognitive decline and dementia are important.

A review of the association between alcohol consumption and cognition in the elderly suggests alcohol may have both a neurotoxic and neuroprotective effect, depending on the dose and drinking pattern. Longitudinal and brain imaging studies in the elderly show that excessive alcohol consumption may increase the risk of cognitive dysfunction and dementia, but regular low to moderate alcohol intake may protect against cognitive decline and dementia and provide cardiovascular benefits.

Investigators reviewed studies published from 1971 to 2011 related to alcohol and cognition in the elderly. At present, there are no proven agents to prevent cognitive decline or dementia, although a number of prospective epidemiological studies have shown a lower risk of such conditions among light to moderate drinkers in comparison with non-drinkers.

Other studies suggest that beneficial effects are seen only among certain sub-groups of subjects. A recent meta-analysis by Peters et al of subjects over the age of 65 in longitudinal studies concluded that light-to-moderate alcohol consumption, in comparison with abstinence, was associated with approximately 35-45% lower risk of cognitive decline or dementia.

They also found that heavy drinking has the opposite effect, so that too much alcohol may increase such risks, so it appears that moderation is the key.

And here’s the abstract from the published paper:

Consumption of large amounts of alcohol is known to have negative effects, but consumption in smaller amounts may be protective. The effect of alcohol may be greater in the elderly than in younger adults, particularly with regard to cognition. However, the drinking pattern that will provide optimal protection against dementia and cognitive decline in the elderly has not been systematically investigated. The present paper is a critical review of research on the effect of alcohol on cognitive function and dementia in the elderly. Studies published from 1971 to 2011 related to alcohol and cognition in the elderly were reviewed using a PubMed search. Alcohol may have both a neurotoxic and neuroprotective effect. Longitudinal and brain imaging studies in the elderly show that excessive alcohol consumption may increase the risk of cognitive dysfunction and dementia, but low to moderate alcohol intake may protect against cognitive decline and dementia and provide cardiovascular benefits. Evidence suggesting that low to moderate alcohol consumption in the elderly protects against cognitive decline and dementia exists; however, because of varying methodology and a lack of standardized definitions, these findings should be interpreted with caution. It is important to conduct more, well-designed studies to identify the alcohol drinking pattern that will optimally protect the elderly against cognitive decline and dementia.

And here’s their conclusion, from the full text of the article:

Evidence suggesting that LMD in the elderly protects against cognitive decline and dementia exists. The present review of evidence-based research may help determine the optimal alcohol drinking pattern to prevent cognitive decline and dementia in the elderly and provide an alternative to existing therapeutic interventions, which have limited effectiveness. However, the varying results of several evidence-based studies of the benefits and risks of alcohol on cognition should be interpreted with caution. Furthermore, the cognitive benefit of LMD may vary from person to person; thus, it is difficult to make a clinical recommendation for abstainers to drink alcohol. Nevertheless, it is important to conduct well-designed studies to determine the optimal alcohol drinking pattern for the elderly as the alternative against cognitive decline and dementia.

It sounds like the key is finding the right dosage for each person, the alcohol sweet spot or goldilocks amount. I’m certainly open to experimentation. Because that’s some seriously tasty medicine I can get behind, especially as I age ever closer to my dotage. I think when I have grandkids, I’m going to teach them to call the refrigerator in the garage, stocked with beer, “grandpa’s medicine cabinet.”

Tonga Beer

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tonga
Today in 1970, Tonga gained their Independence from the United Kingdom.

Tonga
tonga-color

Tonga Breweries

  • Ikale
  • Royal Beer Company Ltd.

Tonga Brewery Guides

Other Guides

Guild: None Known

National Regulatory Agency: None

Beverage Alcohol Labeling Requirements: Not Known

Drunk Driving Laws: 250 micrograms/litre

Tonga

  • Full Name: Kingdom of Tonga
  • Location: Oceania, archipelago in the South Pacific Ocean, about two-thirds of the way from Hawaii to New Zealand
  • Government Type: Constitutional Monarchy
  • Language: Tongan (official), English (official)
  • Religion(s): Christian (Free Wesleyan Church claims over 30,000 adherents)
  • Capital: Nuku’alofa
  • Population: 106,146; 192nd
  • Area: 747 sq km, 190th
  • Comparative Area: Four times the size of Washington, DC
  • National Food: Lū, ‘otai, ‘ota ika
  • National Symbol: Heilala
  • Affiliations: UN, Commonwealth, Pacific Community
  • Independence: From the UK, June 4, 1970

tonga-coa

  • Alcohol Legal: Yes
  • Minimum Drinking Age: 18
  • BAC: 250 micrograms/litre
  • Label Requirements: N/A
  • Number of Breweries: 1

tonga-money

  • How to Say “Beer”: pia
  • How to Order a Beer: N/A
  • How to Say “Cheers”: Ofa atu
  • Toasting Etiquette: N/A

tonga-map

Alcohol Consumption By Type:

  • Beer: 22%
  • Wine: 57%
  • Spirits: 16%
  • Other: 5%

Alcohol Consumption Per Capita (in litres):

  • Recorded: 3.28
  • Unrecorded: 0.50
  • Total: 3.78
  • Beer: 0.89

WHO Alcohol Data:

  • Per Capita Consumption: 3.3 litres
  • Alcohol Consumption Trend: Increase
  • Excise Taxes: N/A
  • Minimum Age: 18
  • Sales Restrictions: N/A
  • Advertising Restrictions: N/A
  • Sponsorship/Promotional Restrictions: N/A

Patterns of Drinking Score: N/A

Prohibition: None

tonga-pacific

Synthetic Alcohol?

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science
I’m not quite sure what to think about this development, but I can’t imagine how it could be a good thing. On Friday, the New York Times had an interesting list of 32 Innovations That Will Change Your Tomorrow. There are some truly amazing items on the list, which if they come to fruition, would indeed change our everyday lives. But one seems just odd, at least to me. Number 20 envisions “A World Without Hangovers,” with the development of “synthetic alcohol,” by none other than British neo-prohibitionist windbag, professor doctor David Nutt. Here’s how the Times describes it:

Researchers at Imperial College London are closing in on a formula for a new kind of booze — synthetic alcohol, it’s called — that would forever eliminate the next morning’s headache (not to mention other problems associated with drinking). The team, led by David Nutt, a psychiatrist and former British drug czar, has identified six compounds similar to benzodiazepines — a broad class of psychoactive drugs — that won’t get you rip-roaring drunk but will definitely provide a buzz. According to Nutt, the alcohol substitute would be a flavorless additive that you could put in a nonalcoholic drink. And when you want to sober up, all you’d have to do is pop a pill.

Now doesn’t that sound appetizing? An N/A beer with a “flavorless additive” made from “psychoactive drugs.” How on Earth did the Times decide that this one even deserved to be on such a list of innovations. Who would want this? Why would you take a natural product and turn it into a chemical substitute for it. Essentially, this is like taking something natural, like coffee, stripping the caffeine out of it and then adding a chemical compound back into it that simulates the original caffeine, but at lower levels. Wouldn’t it be easier to just advocate drinking less or choosing lower alcohol, session beers? Yes, yes it would, but then people would have to be responsible for their own actions. Nutt and the rest of his neo-prohibitionist crew would much prefer controlling peoples’ behavior. They seem to honestly believe that since some people can’t drink responsibly, then no one can. That’s always their rationalization for the outlandish propaganda they’ve spouted over the last few years, things like “beer is more dangerous than heroin” and “no level of alcohol is safe.”

0-alc

According to the graphic accompanying this item, synthetic alcohol is at least two to four years away, but I’m hoping enough people will recognize this for the abomination that it would be, and no one beyond the lunatic anti-alcohol fringe would be in favor of turning such natural drinks like beer, wine and whisky into chemical-laden soda pop for adults.

Secrets Of Nature: Brewster’s Magic

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pathe
Here’s an interesting old video from 1933. It’s from the British Pathe Archives, from the “Secrets of Nature” series entitled Brewster’s Magic. It was a British Instructional Film, photographed by F. Percy Smith, with Editing and Commentary by Mary Field and “Musical setting” by W. Hodgson.

bm-01

The 8-minute black and white film shows time lapse photography of hops and barley growing plus microscopic images, as well. Here’s how they describe the film:

Hand pump being pulled in a pub. Hop root. The eyes are pointed out with a pencil. Time lapse photography of a hop shoot growing. C/U of the claws on the stem of the plant. Plant grows. The claws help the hop plant to twist its way around a smooth surface. Hop flowers growing on a male hop plant. Female hop plant produces flowers. We see them grow through time lapse. Comment on the voiceover about flowers being disappointed spinsters as they will not be fertilised. The flowers continue to grow. C/U of the sticky substance that grows on the petals. Lupelin (sp?) highly magnified. This is the substance that gives flavour and aroma to beer.

Hop garden. Barley ripening in the fields. C/U of barley submerged in water. Time lapse of the barley absorbing water. Barley puts out shoots in time lapse. The maltster turns them upside down to stop them from growing too quickly. Water supply is cut off and the barley withers. Graphic representation of the barley shoot. Animation. Maltster kills the barley grain when it has produced digestive fluid but not had time to use it. Grains are mashed up in hot water to make malt. Men roll barrels along in courtyard of brewery. C/U of yeast cells under a microscope beside a human hair. Moving yeast cells. Cells separate. Fermentation. Diagram of a molecule of sugar. Animated letters. Solution under the microscope. Bubbles are formed.

A pint of beer is pulled in a pub. Shot of man in flat cap drinking beer from a pewter tankard.

bm-02

It’s a cool time capsule and definitely worth checking out.

bm-03

My only quibble is that despite it being almost 80 years old, Pathe still asserts copyright on it. Which is fine, in and of itself, even if I generally disagree with how long copyrights now tend to run. But for some reason, they think it’s reasonable to charge you a whopping £50 ($77) to buy the 8-minute video, and that’s just for a download of it — no DVD or case or artwork, though they graciously will allow you to burn it to your own DVD. How thoughtful. Anyway, as a result, it can’t be embedded and viewed here. Fortunately, you can at least watch it at the Pathe website. Enjoy.

Also, there appear to be a wealth additional historic videos on both beer and hops that look like you could lose an entire day exploring.

Beer In Ads #620: The Brew’s On View

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Friday’s ad is for British Columbia’s O’Keefe’s Brewery, from 1960, when they apparently opened their new “plant.” I know it shouldn’t, but I’m always suspect of any company that refers to its brewery as a “plant.” To me, it suggests a lack of passion for the beer itself, instead placing more emphasis on the business aspects of the endeavor. I do, however, love the shiny illustration of the new brewery and the sign for their Old Vienna Lager Beer.

OKeefes-1960-BC

Samoa Beer

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samoa
Today, each year, Samoa celebrates it independence from New Zealand, though it actually took place five months earlier on January 1, 1962.

Samoa
samoa-color

Samoa Breweries

Samoa Brewery Guides

Other Guides

Guild: None Known

National Regulatory Agency: None

Beverage Alcohol Labeling Requirements: Not Known

Drunk Driving Laws: BAC N/A

Samoa

  • Full Name: Independent State of Samoa
  • Location: Oceania, group of islands in the South Pacific Ocean, about half way between Hawaii and New Zealand
  • Government Type: Parliamentary democracy
  • Language: Samoan (Polynesian) (official), English
  • Religion(s): Protestant 59.9% (Congregationalist 34.8%, Methodist 15%, Assembly of God 6.6%, Seventh-Day Adventist 3.5%), Roman Catholic 19.6%, Mormon 12.7%, Worship Centre 1.3%, other Christian 4.5%, other 1.9%, unspecified 0.1%
  • Capital: Apia
  • Population: 194,320; 184th
  • Area: 2,831 sq km, 178th
  • Comparative Area: Slightly smaller than Rhode Island
  • National Food: Umu (which is the style of cooking)
  • National Symbol: Southern Cross
  • Affiliations: UN, Commonwealth, Pacific Community
  • Independence: Independence Day Celebration, June 1 (1962); Note: January 1, 1962 is the date of independence from the New Zealand-administered UN trusteeship; but it is observed in June (Until 1997 it was known as Western Samoa)

samoa-coa

  • Alcohol Legal: Yes
  • Minimum Drinking Age: 18
  • Label Requirements: N/A
  • Number of Breweries: 1

samoa-west-money

  • How to Say “Beer”: pia
  • How to Order a Beer: N/A
  • How to Say “Cheers”: N/A
  • Toasting Etiquette: N/A

samoa-map

Alcohol Consumption By Type:

  • Beer: 91%
  • Wine: 2%
  • Spirits: 7%

Alcohol Consumption Per Capita (in litres):

  • Recorded: 3.80
  • Unrecorded: 1.00
  • Total: 4.80
  • Beer: 3.31

WHO Alcohol Data:

  • Per Capita Consumption: 3.8 litres
  • Alcohol Consumption Trend: Increase
  • Excise Taxes: N/A
  • Minimum Age: 18
  • Sales Restrictions: N/A
  • Advertising Restrictions: N/A
  • Sponsorship/Promotional Restrictions: N/A

Patterns of Drinking Score: 3

Prohibition: None

samoa-oceania

South Africa Beer

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south-africa
Today in 1910, the Union of South Africa was formed from four British colonies; and on the same day in 1961, South Africa declared themselves a republic.

South Africa
so-africa-color

South Africa Breweries

South Africa Brewery Guides

Other Guides

Guild: None Known

National Regulatory Agency: None

Beverage Alcohol Labeling Requirements: Not Known

Drunk Driving Laws: BAC 0.05% and 0.02% for professional drivers (trucks over 3.5 tonnes, and vehicles carrying passengers for reward) National Road Traffic Act, 1996

south-africa

  • Full Name: Republic of South Africa
  • Location: Southern Africa, at the southern tip of the continent of Africa
  • Government Type: Republic
  • Language: IsiZulu (official) 23.82%, IsiXhosa (official) 17.64%, Afrikaans (official) 13.35%, Sepedi (offcial) 9.39%, English (official) 8.2%, Setswana (official) 8.2%, Sesotho (official) 7.93%, Xitsonga (official) 4.44%, siSwati (official) 2.66%, Tshivenda (official) 2.28%, isiNdebele (official) 1.59%, other 0.5%
  • Religion(s): Protestant 36.6% (Zionist Christian 11.1%, Pentecostal/Charismatic 8.2%, Methodist 6.8%, Dutch Reformed 6.7%, Anglican 3.8%), Catholic 7.1%, Muslim 1.5%, other Christian 36%, other 2.3%, unspecified 1.4%, none 15.1%
  • Capital: Pretoria (administrative capital); Cape Town (legislative capital); Bloemfontein (judicial capital)
  • Population: 48,810,427; 26th
  • Area: 1,219,090 sq km, 25th
  • Comparative Area: Slightly less than twice the size of Texas
  • National Food: Bobotie
  • National Symbols: Springbok Antelope, Elephant (mammals), Blue Crane (bird); King Protea; Real yellowwood; Table Mountain
  • Affiliations: UN, African Union, Commonwealth
  • Independence: May 31, 1910 (Union of South Africa formed from four British colonies: Cape Colony, Natal, Transvaal, and Orange Free State); May 31, 1961 (republic declared)

south-africa-coa

  • Alcohol Legal: Yes
  • Minimum Drinking Age: 18
  • BAC: 0.05%
  • Label Requirements: N/A
  • Number of Breweries: 30

so-africa-money

  • How to Say “Beer”: bier
  • How to Order a Beer: A beer, ah-suh-bleef
  • How to Say “Cheers”: Amandla / Gezondheid (Afrikaans)
  • Toasting Etiquette: For a toast, South Africans raise their glasses and say “Cheers!” On less formal occasions, they sometimes clink their glasses together and say “Chin Chin.”

so-africa-map

Alcohol Consumption By Type:

  • Beer: 56%
  • Wine: 17%
  • Spirits: 16%
  • Other: 11%

Alcohol Consumption Per Capita (in litres):

  • Recorded: 6.96
  • Unrecorded: 2.50
  • Total: 9.46
  • Beer: 3.93

WHO Alcohol Data:

  • Per Capita Consumption: 7 litres
  • Alcohol Consumption Trend: Stable
  • Excise Taxes: Yes
  • Minimum Age: 21
  • Sales Restrictions: Some for time, location
  • Advertising Restrictions: No
  • Sponsorship/Promotional Restrictions: No

Patterns of Drinking Score: 4

Prohibition: None

so-africa-africa