Religious fundamentalists in exploding underpants give most sane people the willies. Take the Spiral Cellars Wine Trend Report by UK wino Tim Atkin for example. Tim’s Ten Commandments for Ethical Drinking (“If you’re an ethically minded wine drinker, there are an increasing number of ways in which you can put your money where your conscience lies”) have all the usual religious problems of contradiction, impracticality and sanctimonious self-satisfaction.

1. Avoid wines sold in heavy bottles
2. Think alternative packaging
3. Buy wines shipped in bulk
4. Buy wines produced closer to home
5. Buy from carbon neutral wineries
6. Buy from wineries that give money to charity or eco projects
7. Buy Fairtrade Wines
8. Buy wines from Black Economic Empowerment projects
9. Buy organic, bio-dynamic or ‘natural’ wine
10. Make your own

The problem for SA producers comes with #3 and 4 (Moses’ equivalents were to keep the Sabbath holy and honour your parents). Just how ethical is it to transfer jobs from the SA packaging, bottle and bladder manufacturing, labeling, cork, screw cap and capsule manufacturers to Corby Bottlers and Kingsland Wine & Spirits in the UK? How rich is it for first world consumers to be told to buy local after causing the lion’s share of the carbon problem in the first place?

The road to unemployment hell in SA is paved with the good intentions of hypocrites. Jambo, Bwana! Hakuna Matata! as they say in the colonial classics.

Related posts:

1. WOSA hugs the wrong tree The recent contention of Richemont chairman Johann Rupert that WOSA,...
2. Wrong again, Su The industry paid-for WOSA World web site complains that this...
3. Bulk Bottling Bites Back Something for the hairy sandals and tree huggers in Tottenham...

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.