And you are here why?

Phil Howard et al. released a study on the wines available for sale in Michigan (yes, I want his job!).  I know, I know, " Michigan? " etc., etc., but go read the synopsis here - its pretty valid for most of the U.S. Highlights include Just three firms, however, account for more than half of the wine sales in the United States The vast majority of varieties were [extremely uncommon], with 72.8% recorded in only one store, and 87% in two or fewer stores The top firms contribute to an illusion of diverse ownership by offering dozens of brands (and hundreds of varieties), many of which do not clearly indicate the parent company on their label Even company websites may not make ownership apparent. To give just one example, “Octavin Home Wine Bar” is in smaller print on a number of boxed wine brands, including Silver Birch (New Zealand), Pinot Evil (France) and Herding Cats (South Africa). If you go to the Octavin website you’ll see it is a trademark of Underdog Wine ...

Today's NY Post has an awesome (-ly made up) article about how NYC is planning on banning Happy Hour, because, well, it'll reduce alcohol consumption or something.  Happy hour in the city could end if Department of Health policy party-poopers go ahead with a proposal to outlaw beer and booze specials at bars and restaurants, sources told The Post. “It’s absolutely been discussed,” confirmed a department source. “It goes to show you the spirit with which they operate. Everyone is a child.” High-level conversations have gone beyond merely “throwing pencils on the ceiling and seeing what sticks,” another Health source revealed. When said Department of Health was asked directly about this, they tried to throw the NY Post off the scent Agency spokesman Sam Miller denied existing “plans to pursue any policy around discount-alcohol sale.” But fear not dear reader, since those fearless news-hounds were on the case - they went right back and asked their "sources...

According the the NY Daily News , the in things amongst teens is Hand Sanitizer .  Really. Six young people recently landed in a Southern California emergency room with alcohol poisoning after chugging the antimicrobial gel. Hand sanitizer contains a whopping 62% ethyl alcohol — making the foul liquid akin to a shot of hard liquor. YouTube has seen an influx of videos of teens chugging the foul germ-killing goo. Which does indeed seem to be the case ( YouTube, at least ) It does bring up a fair point though - given a choice between Tequila and Hand Sanitizer, I'm not quite sure which one is the more reprehensible...