EU seeks to end dispute over the definition of vodka

[Kalevalatar]

This is so utterly ridiculous I had to post it here for the laughs.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/6314761.stm

The European Parliament has suggested a possible solution to a dispute between EU states over the definition of vodka.

Poland, Sweden and Finland say only spirits distilled from grain or potato are truly entitled to be called vodka.

Other countries, such as Hungary, Spain and the UK, say there is no reason to change current rules, which allow it to be made from any agricultural produce.

MEPs have now said vodka not made from grain, potato or molasses should simply have its ingredients clearly labelled.

Vodka made from more than one ingredient would have to be labelled as "blended vodka".

Nice to see my tax money at hard work.

Come to think of it, I should consider a career change. What glorious headaches would I have as an MEP...

 

[MercuryAndy]

i thought it was potatoes only!

 

[Kalevalatar]

i thought it was potatoes only!

Young man, this is a K20/R20 thread.

Anyways, grain, potatoes, whatever, as long as it has that fine taste of industrial sewage, let's call it vodka.

 

[ScottishJohn]

I believe we are leading the charge in the 'keep the wider definition' brigade, as the UK - Europe's second largest vodka producer - uses all sorts including sugar beet and goodness knows what else!

 

[Chilufya]

Man, now I'm confused. I thought if you distilled molasses you got RUM, not "Processed Vodka By-Product".

 

[jwu]

The road to a choking bureaucracy is paved with good intentions

But this actually might appear to be as an important topic to some people. Here in Germany there is a very strict definition of what consitutes beer, and it's widely supported by the population that beer mustn't include anything but certain ingredients such as water and grains. Some people might hold a similarly strict point of view regarding vodka.

 

[Museveni]

Could be a brand/identity thing. Sweden atleast is pretty proud of "our" Vodka and some might have a problem with any mish-mash being allowed to bear that name.

 

[moogoob]

I can understand why, when so many different drinks bear the name "Martini". If it was the same with vodak, you could call distilled orange juice+hops "vodka" and get away with it.

/for the curious, a "Martini" is gin, an olive, and, if you really must, a little bit of Vermouth
//Vodka "martinis" are called "Cosmopolitans" and are drunk by James Bond
///used up my quota of both slashies and quotation marks on this one post!

 

[Rosco]

LOL. Europeans need government to tell them what hooch is. Heh.