Monday 30 October 2023

Fake Wine Bonanza

 
The scandal of fake wine that I describe in more detail in the background links below is set to worsen. Despite being a Brexiteer I am concerned about the government's plan to scrap the old EU trade description law about what can and cannot be called "wine". Under that law the drink must be made from fermented grapes and have none of the alcohol removed in a post-brewing process. The minimum alcohol-by-volume level has to be 8.5% with exceptions made for traditionally low alcohol brands. I've found most brands have a level of 10 to 12%. From now on, low or non-alcoholic drink can legally be sold in wine-shaped bottles and called "wine". Source: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-67136177. As the article warns, some people might end up buying that by mistake while thinking it's ordinary wine. As I explain in the background, that is already a problem. What we're going to have to do is rely on is becoming personally savvy and thinking about two factors so as not to be tricked; check the alcohol content on the label and stay away from anything below about a fiver. If the price looks too good to be true, it probably is. It's a pity we live in a world where the basis of marketing an advertising is deception, manipulation and exploitation; but that's the way it has been since Bernays and it shows no sign of changing.
See here for background: https://hpanwo-voice.blogspot.com/2012/05/fake-wine.html.
And: https://hpanwo-voice.blogspot.com/2023/06/more-fake-wine.html.
And: https://hpanwo-voice.blogspot.com/2012/12/toast-new-year-with-fake-champagne.html.

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