USA: Beer banned in US over Santa logo

A Christmas beer brewed in Oxfordshire has been banned in parts of the United States because it has a picture of Father Christmas on the label, BBC News reported December 5th.

Officials in the state of New York told English brewers Ridgeway Brewing that the image on bottles of Santa's Butt could encourage under-age drinking.

The beer, a 6% winter porter, is brewed in South Stoke for the US market.

The ban was challenged by the beer's American importer and lifted, but has now been imposed in the state of Maine.

Peter Scholey, of Ridgeway Brewing, called the decision "ridiculous".

"They said the label is attractive to children but you cannot go into a shop there that sells alcohol until you are 21," said Daniel Shelton, importer.

This is not the first time that Ridgeway Brewing has fallen foul of state authorities in the US. Last Christmas two of its beers - Seriously Bad Elf and Warm Welcome - were banned in Connecticut on the same grounds.

The ban was successfully challenged by importers, Shelton Brothers, a firm based in Belchertown, Massachusetts.

Daniel Shelton said he felt the latest bans were a case of liquor authorities trying to exert their powers.

"They said there was an undignified and improper image on the label.

"We sent out a press release and the (New York) state liquor authority has immediately been back pedalling.

"Maine has now banned the beer for the same reason."

In a statement, a spokesman for the New York State Liquor Authority, said: "These labels were denied at the staff level originally, they were later reviewed by the SLA General Counsel and approved."

08 December, 2006