Apparently the state that pioneered the drive-thru daiquiri shop is just too damn prop-ah to designate an official state cocktail, even one that was invented there....
The Louisiana Senate on Tuesday rejected a proposal to honor the New Orleans cocktail known as the Sazerac.
The bill by Sen. Ed Murray would have made the whiskey-based beverage the official state cocktail. Murray, D-New Orleans, noted that the drink was created in his home city and has become world famous. But Sen. Buddy Shaw and several other senators said it was inappropriate to honor an alcoholic beverage.
"Is there a possibility that we could be encouraging folks, who were not intending to drink, that it would be acceptable and they could become an alcoholic?" Shaw asked.
"No," Murray replied.
Others speaking in opposition were Sens. Jody Amedee, D-Gonzales, John Smith, D-Leesville, and Gerald Long, R-Natchitoches. All three said passing the bill would "send the wrong message" about the state.
Apparently the state senate's too busy this week with right messages and important things to deal with such frivolity. From a Gambit article by Jeremy Alford:
Rep. Lowell C. Hazel, a freshman Republican from Pineville, wants the Louisiana Legislature to go into greater detail regarding illegal activities between a hooker and a john. Right now, state law generally refers to "sexual intercourse," with only brief illustrations. Hazel's House Bill 40 would clarify that "sexual intercourse includes oral, anal or vaginal intercourse."
And:
House Concurrent Resolution 4, which urges the state to amend the Louisiana State Plumbing Code to require privacy partitions between urinals in male restrooms. Rep. Mickey James Guillory (D-Eunice) notes that his bill only seeks to implement what is already in the International Plumbing Code, but adds the primary concern is homosexual behavior, some of which is "being directed at 8-year-olds and 9-year-olds" and not just adults, he says.
Guillory says the idea for the resolution actually came from Paul Marx, founder of Louisiana Proud Radio, a 25,000-watt station in Eunice that's better known as KBON and is found at 101.1 FM. "This was a topic that was on the radio show and people called in pretty heavy to share stories and talk about what's going on. This is a pretty serious problem," Guillory says.
I went to a KBON party a few months ago and didn't notice any wide stances or shrimp boots tapping out Morse code in the toilets, but then again, my looks have been fading for a while.
At any rate, it's good to know that Baton Rouge is busy with "serious problems" and sending out the right messages to the world. When alcoholism is eradicated in Louisiana, you'll know who to thank.
I was thinking about getting shitfaced tonight. Thanks to the honorable actions of the Louisiana Senate, I will have milk instead. What kind of a nation is it that actually encourages people to drink by suggesting that states have official cocktails?
Kee-rist ... at this rate, next thing you know, you'll see advertisements on TV and in the newspapers suggesting that people buy lottery tickets.
Posted by: Jil | April 09, 2008 at 02:14 PM
Maybe next session a mint julep? Or how about a Hurricane? That would fit, wouldn't it?
Posted by: Bev Marshall | April 10, 2008 at 12:24 PM
Maybe the entire state legislature should have been treated to a round of Sazeracs before the debate on the state cocktail.
I often suggest margaritas for meetings that will be particularly boring or frustrated. Unfortunately no one has yet realized that I'm not joking.
Posted by: Kate | April 11, 2008 at 05:11 PM