[Draft] A Promotion of Brewing

[Wallenburg]

OOC: Considering I have 6 gallons of the homemade stuff ten feet from me...and about a case in the other room...and the jug of cider...oh, and the mead in the fridge, I'd say that I don't have nearly enough of the homemade stuff!

OOC: Oh, no. [Insert your preferred deity, or Carl Sagan, here] help you.

IC: "Amb'sshador, how soshiety drinksh is a yuuuge part of itsh cultur'l heritage, an' cultural heritage is alw's worth protectin'. We promote honey farming, 'fter all! That'sh the greatisht part of th' cultural heritage category, itsh all 'bout savin' little pieshes of culture!"

IC: "Actually, the World Assembly promotes beekeeping, not honey farming. And it does so not under the guise of preserving cultural heritage, but under the category of Free Trade. Mild. It mandates the legalization of beekeeping and opens up international trade to bees and the substances they produce, out of the interest of national economies and environments. Bees are a vital part of many worlds' ecosystems, and besides their stingers, they cause no harm to humans and only offer opportunities and benefits. The same cannot be said of alcohol."

"I also share the concerns of Ambassador Fairburn"

Barbera: Do my senses deceive me?! Ambassador Ogenbond and Ambassador Fairburn agreeing twice in the same day?! It is thus confirmed...

The world is ending! O God Almighty, save us from Your wrath and provide us with Your mercy! Save us from the notion of cats and dogs living together! Someone sound the alarm at once!

Harold: On it! (activates fire alarm)

Fairburn: (sighs) It's true, you know. I'm surrounded by idiots.

Congratulations, Wallenburg. You've made Fairburn look like the sanest member of our Delegation. Nice job. Have a medal.

IC: "Ma'am--err, Ambassador--no, wait, acting Ambassador Warner--I suggest you don't let my agreement go to your head. Your broken clocks are right once a day. And we're still at war, mind you."

[Separatist Peoples]

IC: "Actually, the World Assembly promotes beekeeping, not honey farming.

"S'what I shaid..."

And it does so not under the guise of preserving cultural heritage, but under the category of Free Trade. Mild. It mandates the legalization of beekeeping and opens up international trade to bees and the substances they produce, out of the interest of national economies and environments.

"I guesshI could write it to be Free Trade...but itsh about the culture of beer!"

Bees are a vital part of many worlds' ecosystems, and besides their stingers, they cause no harm to humans and only offer opportunities and benefits. The same cannot be said of alcohol."

"Beer caus's no harm but fer it's abush. Y'can't leave out shtingers if yer gonna analo...anali...compare to beesh. The entire point of th's categ'ry is to protect bits of culture tha' we think ish important. Thish ish mine, and it doeshn't hurt nothin'."

[Wallenburg]

"Ambassador, you are embarrassing yourself. While I would love to watch this more, I do not have the time, and I have other things to attend to."

[Separatist Peoples]

"Ambassador, you are embarrassing yourself. While I would love to watch this more, I do not have the time, and I have other things to attend to."

OOC: Ok, since you're not interested in playing along, we can do this OOC.

Brewing alcohol dates back to the Neolithic era and has been the source of innumerable cultural phenomenons. It was primarily used as a safe alternative to drinking water when many water sources were contaminated with dangerous microbes, and the ability to transform inedible raw grain into beer and bread started the very first steps into creating society today. It was used as a form of currency and status in ancient Sumeria, from which a number of traditions, such as offering guests a drink when they enter your home and raising a glass to symbolically share in the drink are aspects that we see today.

In cultures where more than one type of alcoholic beverage is available, drinks are classified in terms of their social meaning, and the classification of drinks is used to define the social world. Few, if any, alcoholic beverages are ‘socially neutral’. Every drink is loaded with meaning, every drink conveys a message. Alcohol is a symbolic vehicle for identifying, describing, and manipulating cultural systems, values, interpersonal relationships, behavioral norms and expectations.

The ancient Babylonian Epic of Gilgament hightlight beer as a civilizing force for Enkindu, which is in hand with it's nutritious and safe qualities. Medieval monasteries and brewers would create their own dedicated styles and flavors that couldn't be replicated elsewhere and became locally famous. Some, like the Trappist monks, have perfected their styles and continue it to this day. As Europe industrialized, demand for a variety of flavors, from English porters and stouts to German wheats and Czech pilsner to Imperial Russian Export, skyrocketed. Even French ciders and northern meads were in demand, thought to a lesser extent. In recent days, UNESCO has classified the Belgian beer styles on a list of intangible cultural heritage of humanity worthy of protection.

The details of the brews, from how they are made to why they are drunk and what is preferred where, demonstrates a cultural fabric that has tied into the historical and culinary backgrounds of a checkerboard of locations. It is at it's heart, just as much a form of culture as more traditional notions of art like theater and sculpture and architecture. It is an intangible part of what a culture is and where it came from, and at it's core, it's what dragged us out of the caves and into civilization. Beer and bread are just two sides of the same coin. If it's worth celebrating and promoting cultural arts at all, beer deserves a place.

[States of Glory WA Office]

Fairburn: I'm a little worried that the large supply of beer will take away the demand for Orange Julius', but as long as I decide what to put in my mouth, and I don't just mean drinks, then the only complaint I have is that we could do absolutely nothing and still be compliant.

Harold: If only we could have a proposal promoting cream pies...

Fairburn: (hands Harold a pen)

Harold: Consider it a long-term goal!

Barbera: (suppressing anger) With all due respect, we must oppose strongly this sinful and irresponsible proposal. The consumption of alcohol is a tradition that comes from the Devil himself and is one of the biggest killers of sapient beings! We instead suggest drafting a proposal to enforce prohibition on all inhabitants of World Assembly member states.

Fairburn: Now you know why no-one ever sees Barbera at the Strangers' Bar.*

*OOC: Please tell me that someone noticed this. Anyone?

Bell blows a raspberry at Barbera, which the translator picks up and translates in a cool, female voice: "If you wish to refrain from consuming alcohol, you may continue to do so. Historical brewing is itself a tradition that should not be lost to time, regardless of personal endeavors to avoid the products."

Barbera: If you wish to refrain from purchasing goods made by slaves, you may continue to do so. Historical involuntary servitude is itself a tradition that should not be lost to time, regardless of personal endeavors to avoid the products.

Fairburn: Hey, I'm the one who's supposed to make terrible arguments!

Barbera: Do my senses deceive me?! Ambassador Ogenbond and Ambassador Fairburn agreeing twice in the same day?! It is thus confirmed...

The world is ending! O God Almighty, save us from Your wrath and provide us with Your mercy! Save us from the notion of cats and dogs living together! Someone sound the alarm at once!

Harold: On it! (activates fire alarm)

Fairburn: (sighs) It's true, you know. I'm surrounded by idiots.

Congratulations, Wallenburg. You've made Fairburn look like the sanest member of our Delegation. Nice job. Have a medal.

IC: "Ma'am--err, Ambassador--no, wait, acting Ambassador Warner--I suggest you don't let my agreement go to your head. Your broken clocks are right once a day. And we're still at war, mind you."

Harold: We never signed the declaration. We're technically in a state of sabre-rattling.

Fairburn: Behold, ladies and gentlemen! The Wallenburgers are so bad at manufacturing that their broken clocks are right only once a day instead of twice a day! This is certainly a new low!

[Separatist Peoples]

Barbera: If you wish to refrain from purchasing goods made by slaves, you may continue to do so. Historical involuntary servitude is itself a tradition that should not be lost to time, regardless of personal endeavors to avoid the products.

Fairburn: Hey, I'm the one who's supposed to make terrible arguments!

Bell has slunk behind the podium at this point, and his Universal Translator seems to take it upon itself to answer for him in the same cool, feminine voice.

"Slavery is a state of involuntary coercion of labor from a sentient human being. Alcohol is an intoxicating chemical drunk socially. The two are not comparable."

[Araraukar]

Fairburn: Behold, ladies and gentlemen! The Wallenburgers are so bad at manufacturing that their broken clocks are right only once a day instead of twice a day! This is certainly a new low!

OOC: There are 24 hours in a day, so if your clock is stuck at 17:35, it's going to be right only once per day...

And I'll get around to poking this proposal in IC once I figure out which nation would be most funny in doing so...

[Excidium Planetis]

"I fail to see why the World Assembly is in dire need of legislation promoting the brewing of alcoholic beverages." Blackbourne starts. "There is surely something else we can waste four days of voting on."

"Besides," he adds, "Beer is rather nasty stuff."

[Imperium Anglorum]

"Besides," he adds, "Beer is rather nasty stuff."

North looks at him surprisingly, and downs some more beer.

[Separatist Peoples]

"I fail to see why the World Assembly is in dire need of legislation promoting the brewing of alcoholic beverages." Blackbourne starts. "There is surely something else we can waste four days of voting on."

"Besides," he adds, "Beer is rather nasty stuff."

Bell climbs up from behind the podium with a hot water bottle on his head and a rather greenish tinge under his ebony skin.

"Oh, my aching head..." He overhears the comment from Blackbourne.

"Clearly you've had the wrong kind of beer. Have you been drinking Scudweiser? Look, the World Assembly has protected cultural heritage a bunch of times. A lot of those resolutions have been repealed, but mostly for some pretty petty reasons. We have protections for music, literature, cultural sites, and, in some small measure, artifacts. We've recognized culture is important. Brewing is a serious component of intangible culture for many. Certainly for humans, and human nations seem to outnumber nonhuman nations here. Its as much a part of cultural heritage as any cuisine, and its a new kind of proposal at a time where decent proposals seem to be few and far between. We just had a huge quiet spell. The only reason I can see to genuinely, politically oppose this is if you're either a fan of temperance, or you have an issue with the author."

Bell burps and makes an appalled face. "Yuck...Or, you know, I guess you could be one of those types who things protecting culture is a worthless endeavor. In which case, I'm not going to convince you, and you should see yourself out. But there is both precedent for cultural heritage protection and justification for preserving this particular art form."

[States of Glory WA Office]

"We have protections for music, literature, cultural sites, and, in some small measure, artifacts."

Barbera: Music, literature, cultural sites and artefacts are universal representations of culture. Most nations and their cultures are going to possess examples of all these items and every culture is going to have their own perceptions and variations regarding them, even if there may be similarities.

On the other hand, there are only so many methods in which beer may be brewed, so it is entirely possible that some nations use exactly the same brewing method as other nations. That to us hardly seems like a unique aspect of the culture of a particular nation. In any case, in some member states, the lack of brewing, or indeed alcohol of any kind, is an inherent element of the culture of those member states, but you instead wish to engage in the questionable practice of cultural imperialism through the passage of a proposal that is an insult to various cultures that are represented in this august Assembly.

"Brewing is a serious component of intangible culture for many."

Barbera: So is involuntary servitude, forced marriage, sex-selective infanticide and disco music, yet we do not see all the resolutions that are being proposed to protect those important aspects of culture.

[Separatist Peoples]

"We have protections for music, literature, cultural sites, and, in some small measure, artifacts."

Barbera: Music, literature, cultural sites and artefacts are universal representations of culture. Most nations and their cultures are going to possess examples of all these items and every culture is going to have their own perceptions and variations regarding them, even if there may be similarities.

"How can you not say the same of alcohol?"

On the other hand, there are only so many methods in which beer may be brewed, so it is entirely possible that some nations use exactly the same brewing method as other nations.

OOC: Belgium alone has over 100 different styles of beer and 1000 different variations. One nation. Then there's Germany, UK, whatever Czechoslovakia is these days, US beer styles (which are emerging every day. New England IPAs didn't exist before), China, Japan, Korea...That's just objectively incorrect, dude.

That to us hardly seems like a unique aspect of the culture of a particular nation. In any case, in some member states, the lack of brewing, or indeed alcohol of any kind, is an inherent element of the culture of those member states, but you instead wish to engage in the questionable practice of cultural imperialism through the passage of a proposal that is an insult to various cultures that are represented in this august Assembly.

"Nothing about this requires those nations engage in any practices. Have you bothered to read this? At all?"

Barbera: So is involuntary servitude, forced marriage, sex-selective infanticide and disco music, yet we do not see all the resolutions that are being proposed to protect those important aspects of culture.

"The first three of those are logical fallacies. Not even comparable, and I'm not willing to deal with idiotic arguments, regardless of you personal (OOC: RP) beliefs. The last one is appalling, but harmless. Try again."

[Araraukar]

OOC: Belgium alone has over 100 different styles of beer and 1000 different variations.

OOC: All brewed with water, malt, sugar (2nd EDIT: or does it get its sugars from malt? or both? can't remember), yeast and various additions for flavour, I'm guessing?

EDIT: You might be able to get away with promoting culinary culture in general, but trying to promote just a few alcoholic beverages is like if a musical heritage thing was trying to say international laws should totally promote brass instrumental music, ignoring how it belongs in the larger genre known as "music".

[States of Glory WA Office]

Barbera: Music, literature, cultural sites and artefacts are universal representations of culture. Most nations and their cultures are going to possess examples of all these items and every culture is going to have their own perceptions and variations regarding them, even if there may be similarities.

"How can you not say the same of alcohol?"

Barbera: Are you attempting to argue that alcohol has the same reach as music, literature, cultural sites and artefacts? When libraries of alcoholic beverages start being built then please let us know forthwith.

OOC note: I in fact have no idea whether there exist libraries for alcoholic beverages, so I could be completely wrong in that regard.

On the other hand, there are only so many methods in which beer may be brewed, so it is entirely possible that some nations use exactly the same brewing method as other nations.

OOC: Belgium alone has over 100 different styles of beer and 1000 different variations. One nation. Then there's Germany, UK, whatever Czechoslovakia is these days, US beer styles (which are emerging every day. New England IPAs didn't exist before), China, Japan, Korea...That's just objectively incorrect, dude.

OOC: Great job! Now just try to state that IC.

For the avoidance of any doubt, my opinion on this matter aligns with that of Fairburn: add in a mandatory clause and protect the Orange Julius, but otherwise fine.

That to us hardly seems like a unique aspect of the culture of a particular nation. In any case, in some member states, the lack of brewing, or indeed alcohol of any kind, is an inherent element of the culture of those member states, but you instead wish to engage in the questionable practice of cultural imperialism through the passage of a proposal that is an insult to various cultures that are represented in this august Assembly.

"Nothing about this requires those nations engage in any practices. Have you bothered to read this? At all?"

Barbera: This proposal encourages such practices nonetheless, does it not? Even the mere encouragement of restrictions on interstellar warfare is enough to insult various spacefaring nations; why is alcohol the exception?

Barbera: So is involuntary servitude, forced marriage, sex-selective infanticide and disco music, yet we do not see all the resolutions that are being proposed to protect those important aspects of culture.

"The first three of those are logical fallacies. Not even comparable, and I'm not willing to deal with idiotic arguments, regardless of you personal (OOC: RP) beliefs."

Barbera: We must request that you actually address the arguments rather than dismissing them as logical fallacies without any substantiation.

"The last one is appalling, but harmless. Try again."

Barbera: Alcohol is both appalling and harmful. Therefore, if the brewing of alcohol ought to be considered an important cultural practice then so too should the engagement in disco music, as distasteful as you may find it.

OOC: Belgium alone has over 100 different styles of beer and 1000 different variations.

OOC: All brewed with water, malt, sugar (2nd EDIT: or does it get its sugars from malt? or both? can't remember), yeast and various additions for flavour, I'm guessing?

OOC: The sugar comes from the malt, but there are also the hops for flavour.

EDIT: You might be able to get away with promoting culinary culture in general, but trying to promote just a few alcoholic beverages is like if a musical heritage thing was trying to say international laws should totally promote brass instrumental music, ignoring how it belongs in the larger genre known as "music".

OOC: You've pretty much latched on to Barbera's argument there. There's a difference between promoting brewing in general and promoting the brewing of beer in particular, which is why this proposal is not comparable with promoting music, literature, cultural sites or artefacts.

[Kalata]

considerin that al formz for br can be triviale synthesisd usin publicle availabl methods y do we nd to promote any brewing? it jus makez wors br. alcohol r fun substens though an we haz fantastic selecshun et our privmicate bar frum al ovr teh univers.

[Excidium Planetis]

"Clearly you've had the wrong kind of beer. Have you been drinking Scudweiser?

"Schlammtrinken." Blackbourne corrects. "It's the only kind of beer served on military stations, and it tastes like piss."

Look, the World Assembly has protected cultural heritage a bunch of times. A lot of those resolutions have been repealed, but mostly for some pretty petty reasons. We have protections for music, literature, cultural sites, and, in some small measure, artifacts. We've recognized culture is important. Brewing is a serious component of intangible culture for many. Certainly for humans, and human nations seem to outnumber nonhuman nations here. Its as much a part of cultural heritage as any cuisine, and its a new kind of proposal at a time where decent proposals seem to be few and far between. We just had a huge quiet spell. The only reason I can see to genuinely, politically oppose this is if you're either a fan of temperance, or you have an issue with the author."

Bell burps and makes an appalled face. "Yuck...Or, you know, I guess you could be one of those types who things protecting culture is a worthless endeavor. In which case, I'm not going to convince you, and you should see yourself out. But there is both precedent for cultural heritage protection and justification for preserving this particular art form."

"Those resolutions have not been necessary, urgent, or even important, either. The World Assembly has successfully elevated music, literature, and beekeeping to the same status as backwards space policy, the right to have an abortion, and making sure prostitutes are clean." Blackbourne says. "You've established precedent, but you haven't stopped to ask if that precedent is even a good one."

"Now, as for the reasons for opposition, GA funds will be used to expand the WATCH committee, and those funds come from WA member nations. I do not think it is a wise use of GA funds to support unified brewing standards. This resolution also not just permits legalization of alcohol, it promotes it. The resolution promotes consumption of beer for cultural reasons, which is an encouragement to drink and therefore also an invitation to get drunk. You yourself have set the standard, Ambassador Bell. It is not wise for the World Assembly to encourage citizens to get drunk, especially not without any kind of warnings about consumption while pregnant, underage drinking, drinking and driving, mixing medications with alcohol, or any of the other many health dangers that come with excessive drinking. It's a waste of money, a waste of time, and a bad example."

[Kalata]

It is not wise for the World Assembly to encourage citizens to get drunk, especially not without any kind of warnings about consumption while pregnant, underage drinking, drinking and driving, mixing medications with alcohol, or any of the other many health dangers that come with excessive drinking. It's a waste of money, a waste of time, and a bad example."

propr medicel care would solve al thees probimz. gived that teh world asemble haz alreedy pasd resolutionz to mandmicate such care y would thiz be problematic? an if they nied transplants doo tue sacuh tingz laik sirohsiss uv da livr, we wil be happy to provide them fre uv chaage if we can den sen anthropologistz an administratorz.

[Excidium Planetis]

propr medicel care would solve al thees probimz. gived that teh world asemble haz alreedy pasd resolutionz to mandmicate such care y would thiz be problematic? an if they nied transplants doo tue sacuh tingz laik sirohsiss uv da livr, we wil be happy to provide them fre uv chaage if we can den sen anthropologistz an administratorz.

"Severe trauma and burns after a starship collision, swiftly followed by radiation poisoning and suffocation, are not something that can be merely treated with better medical care. Piloting while drunk is a serious problem."

[Kalata]

propr medicel care would solve al thees probimz. gived that teh world asemble haz alreedy pasd resolutionz to mandmicate such care y would thiz be problematic? an if they nied transplants doo tue sacuh tingz laik sirohsiss uv da livr, we wil be happy to provide them fre uv chaage if we can den sen anthropologistz an administratorz.

"Severe trauma and burns after a starship collision, swiftly followed by radiation poisoning and suffocation, are not something that can be merely treated with better medical care. Piloting while drunk is a serious problem."

y would u evr haz biologicel pilots? that soundz horrifyingle enefficeint sins u can replas practicale al nyed fr pilotz wif computerz wich do it moar efficeintly, faster, an wif moar precishun. evin terrestriel civilisationz stumbl upon selfdrivin carz k? Honestly thiz r reele jus eh u problem.

[Excidium Planetis]

y would u evr haz biologicel pilots? that soundz horrifyingle enefficeint sins u can replas practicale al nyed fr pilotz wif computerz wich do it moar efficeintly, faster, an wif moar precishun. evin terrestriel civilisationz stumbl upon selfdrivin carz k? Honestly thiz r reele jus eh u problem.

"Computers leave warp drive jump coordinates behind, which can be captured by the enemy or obtained through hacking. Human navigators are safer for Home Fleet." Blackbourne. "Besides, computer pilots can't learn and adapt as well as humans can. They can only learn within their programming. And then, of course, humans are plentiful and cheap and require very little energy to maintain. But none of this has to do with beer."

[Kalata]

"Computers leave warp drive jump coordinates behind, which can be captured by the enemy or obtained through hacking. Human navigators are safer for Home Fleet." Blackbourne. "Besides, computer pilots can't learn and adapt as well as humans can. They can only learn within their programming. And then, of course, humans are plentiful and cheap and require very little energy to maintain. But none of this has to do with beer."

it haz much to do wif beer. we ned to asez teh chancez fr vehicular accidentz in hightechnology soceitiez. thiz honestle stil soundz liek one uv ur problemz. practicale anyone can kwite eesileh deeraiv jump cordinatez frum their obviouz tachyon emisionz. kepin fastr than lite travel secret iz liek tryin to hide uh star chlustr. an if ur computerz arent fule senteint u wreely shud fire womevr r in charge for it, sinz eyeder dey kant ryte kode, aur dey r krayzee pahranoyd.

[Araraukar]

OOC: Considering the promotion of alcohol drinking, shouldn't this go under Recreational Drug Use rather than Education and Creativity?

[Bears Armed]

"Look, the World Assembly has protected cultural heritage a bunch of times. A lot of those resolutions have been repealed, but mostly for some pretty petty reasons. We have protections for music, literature, cultural sites, and, in some small measure, artifacts."

"but not, alas, also Dance..." murmurs Artorrius.

[Bakhton]

Lara Qzu enters and sits down. "We stand in favor of this resolution."
"Ma'am, you're sitting."
"Don't test me Jeffrey. I had a long night at the pub."

[Separatist Peoples]

"Schlammtrinken." Blackbourne corrects. "It's the only kind of beer served on military stations, and it tastes like piss."

Bell shudders at the thought. "You gotta try...basically anything else."

"Those resolutions have not been necessary, urgent, or even important, either. The World Assembly has successfully elevated music, literature, and beekeeping to the same status as backwards space policy, the right to have an abortion, and making sure prostitutes are clean." Blackbourne says. "You've established precedent, but you haven't stopped to ask if that precedent is even a good one."

"Necessary and important are entirely subjective, but cultural preservation and celebration is always valuable, ambassador. Without cultural enrichment, life becomes painfully monotonous. I feel like I shouldn't have to argue why cultural heritage and enrichment is beneficial. It's part of what separates us from beasts."

"Now, as for the reasons for opposition, GA funds will be used to expand the WATCH committee, and those funds come from WA member nations. I do not think it is a wise use of GA funds to support unified brewing standards. This resolution also not just permits legalization of alcohol, it promotes it

"It encourages legalization. It doesn't require it. It certainly promotes alcohol consumption, but in the context of cultural celebration and not necessarily in excess. How it is promoted is, of course, entirely up to you."

The resolution promotes consumption of beer for cultural reasons, which is an encouragement to drink and therefore also an invitation to get drunk.

"That does not follow. Drinking can be accomplished without drinking to excess."

You yourself have set the standard, Ambassador Bell.

OOC: Point taken. In the future, I will endeavor not to make jokes in drafting threads. Fucking hell, people, its a proposal about beer. Having a drunk ambassador was meant to be funny.

t is not wise for the World Assembly to encourage citizens to get drunk, especially not without any kind of warnings about consumption while pregnant, underage drinking, drinking and driving, mixing medications with alcohol, or any of the other many health dangers that come with excessive drinking. It's a waste of money, a waste of time, and a bad example."

"Literally none of those things are precluded, ambassador. Nations are perfectly capable of warning their citizens. Or not. Your only meritorious argument against seems to be the cost, to which I must point out that the logical end of that approach justifies never passing a resolution ever again to preserve the coffers. It would be cheaper to disband the World Assembly altogether. Our purpose here is not to clutch at the purse-strings of the GAO, but to legislate to the benefit of the world."

OOC: Considering the promotion of alcohol drinking, shouldn't this go under Recreational Drug Use rather than Education and Creativity?

OOC: It doesn't promote drinking, it promotes brewing. Brewing is as much an art form as cooking.

Barbera: Are you attempting to argue that alcohol has the same reach as music, literature, cultural sites and artefacts? When libraries of alcoholic beverages start being built then please let us know forthwith

"As many cultures with music have alcohol, ambassador. It's been a

OOC note: I in fact have no idea whether there exist libraries for alcoholic beverages, so I could be completely wrong in that regard.

OOC: I don't know what officially is retained, but private organizations keep quite a serious tab on various brews. Here's the thing: brewing has interest groups as much as anything else. You also get reenacting/living history cultural heritage groups, people who wish to preserve ancient skills like thatching and peat-cutting, and so on and so forth. A lot of those interest groups retain databases of one kind or another.

OOC: Great job! Now just try to state that IC.

OOC: What do you want me to do, make up a RP number of brewing products in NationStates? Anything I say there is wholly meaningless. Observe:

IC: "There are 1,039,239,580,844 distinct kinds of brewing products native to member states." Bell says, holding up an official report.

OOC: See? Pointless.

Barbera: This proposal encourages such practices nonetheless, does it not? Even the mere encouragement of restrictions on interstellar warfare is enough to insult various spacefaring nations; why is alcohol the exception?

"Encouragement can be ignored. Your Excellency is welcome to ignore this proposal should it pass."

Barbera: We must request that you actually address the arguments rather than dismissing them as logical fallacies without any substantiation.

"Slavery, forced marriage, and infanticide involve the deprivation of rights of a sapient creature. Neither disco nor brewing do. Its a strawman argument that is beneath you, ambassador."

Barbera: Alcohol is both appalling and harmful. Therefore, if the brewing of alcohol ought to be considered an important cultural practice then so too should the engagement in disco music, as distasteful as you may find it.

"I never argued that disco music shouldn't be considered an important cultural practice. It's a kind of music and dance that emerged in the context of social shift during a dynamic time. It is as much a piece of cultural heritage as baroque or rock'n'roll."

OOC: All brewed with water, malt, sugar (2nd EDIT: or does it get its sugars from malt? or both? can't remember), yeast and various additions for flavour, I'm guessing?

OOC: The sugar comes from the malt, but there are also the hops for flavour.[/quote]
OOC: Water, Malt, Yeast, Hops, plus adjuncts. There are hundreds of variations on yeast, including ale, lager, and wild yeasts, thousands of different kinds of malt, from pale 2 row to black patent malt, barley, rye, oats, etc., and just tons of hops. Plus adjuncts, like oak cubes, fruits, and spices. And there's aging. Some beers are aged for weeks, and some for years, which changes character...I mean, I could go on and on. You can't argue that the mere limitation on ingredients itself limits the variation of concoctions any more than you can argue that cars are limited by their component parts. All cars have engines and wheels, but that doesn't make them all the same.

EDIT: You might be able to get away with promoting culinary culture in general, but trying to promote just a few alcoholic beverages is like if a musical heritage thing was trying to say international laws should totally promote brass instrumental music, ignoring how it belongs in the larger genre known as "music".

OOC: You've pretty much latched on to Barbera's argument there. There's a difference between promoting brewing in general and promoting the brewing of beer in particular, which is why this proposal is not comparable with promoting music, literature, cultural sites or artefacts.

OOC: As I've said at least once before, wine deserves it's own resolution. It's so very pervasive and nuanced that it deserves no less. As for liquors, I can't lump them in with beer and wine, because beer and wine don't get distilled. Distilling is a different process entirely, and besides, if nations are going to make temperance arguments, I'm going to have no luck promoting 100 proof whiskey when I can't promote 12 proof beer.

On an entirely unrelated note, its fascinating that a fairly unique proposal being submitted during a time of activity decline is being painted as a funding sink, when it really wouldn't be very expensive by comparison, and arguments about international relevance when we have an entire category devoted to cultural promotion. The temperance ones I get, but the others are just looking obstructionist in light of the historical decline in activity. :/