Going Green For Beer: Poor Mass Transit In The US Makes Alcohol More Dangerous

President-Elect Barack Obama is under pressure from all sides to create exactly the right kind of economic stimulus package -- some want it green, some want it huge, some say it has to be both (a trillion dollars? ouch!). Early talk had the stimulus going to revamp and green US infrastructure. Better transportation and better energy transmission.

Now there's another argument in favor of improving transportation in the US -- beer:

Driving under the influence of alcohol is a very serious matter. But count me among those who enjoy a good brew or single malt from time to time, so I am not without sympathy for those who find it difficult to enjoy themselves in a world where options other than driving are limited.

And now, the connection has been made. William Brand writes in his beer column for the Contra Costa (CA) Times, "What's On Tap":

"For instance, I live three miles from the closest BART station; there's only bus service 9-5 weekdays and it's five blocks to the damn bus stop. So I drive, usually to BART. Coming home, I don't get back in the car 'til I'm certain I'm sober. It's a hell of a way to live."

It reminds us of this green beer campaign from Australia:

Comments

[sb250guy]

I'm willing to do my part. Pour me a cold one!

[octo]

This is my kind of GreenWash. Go to the pub drink beer, AND save the planet!

....Now where's my coat?

[cylindar]

Beer just makes you stupid and fat. Although I gotta tell you there is nothing like a European brew. American beer is pisswater unless you make it yourself.

[otiswaynehale]

It is obvious you know nothing about good beer. American craft breweries make beers that rank among the best in the entire world. Your familiarity lies in industrial beer which is indeed swill. Before commenting on a subject, you should actually know something about it. Fatuous pronouncements on a subject you know little about serve no one.

[jake106]

What he said.

[HowietheScreamer]

Oooh ya. I second that motion.

[gastoys]

It's only green if you are drinking local beers to minimize carbon foot print. Personally I like to drink beers from the furthest countries like Australia, Ireland, England and New Zealand. :)

[HowietheScreamer]

You should try more local micro brews. You might be surprised to find that your imports tend to be rather abused in transit. Local stuff is much better.

[RandomMandarin]

Y'know, this is absolutely true. When I lived in Boston, I could get reasonably hammered (i.e. ambulatory and civilized but far too impaired to drive) and the subway or bus would get me where I needed to be. Didn't even need to own a car.

[KrystynM]

Sadly, Boston is the ONLY place in Mass where this is possible and to live there you need to have a sizeable trust fund or sell your first child. LOL!

[Venicedread]

A solution to having more beer and a way to get home!?!
I'm all for it!!!

[GrayOwl]

We should have a much better mass transit system for general purposes. This issue, one of safety, adds to the need.

[RightWingMarine]

yeah let's get a bunch of drunks together on a bus so they are in close proximity to each other and easily grouped together for muggers, no way that could backfire. What we need is to remove the restrictions on having bars in neighborhoods. If the bar is only down the block it's a lot more resonable to walk there. Kids still won't be served so that's a make believe issue used by the prohibitionists to try and control our lives.

[Arthur954]

We want everything ! public transportation AND bars in neighborhoods. In England and Ireland there are bars everywhere and its no problem. Safer and better.

[Richterscale]

Frankly, I think a better idea would be to legalize pot. I'd much rather face a highway full of stoned drivers than drunk ones.

[medicontheedge]

you are a little behind the times about ireland... there is a real pub shortage..­. really. there is a problem with not enough "locals", your neighbourhood pub to walk to. add this to the fact that the celtic tiger gave a whole lot of young people money to buy cars, and you have the carnage on the road like we do. also, their emergency medical/ambulance services are 20 years behind the times in a lot of areas.

[LMPLibn]

RightWingMarine, you obviously do not take public transport regularly late at night or during holidays. Buses (etc) carry many of the inebriated. And while on occasion a transport operator will have to get police assistance to remove the rowdy... I *far* prefer the slight delay or the noise of an intoxicated crowd to the potential for deadly or merely dangerous car accidents by their driving in said conditions. While it is great to have a neighborhood pub, in many locations you still will need buses to get home (houses spread too far apart).

[provgrays]

The Right Wing has taken more control of our lives by gutting the Constitution the past eight years and you're worried about the prospect of drunks NOT driving home?

[walk0nwalls]

Yeah, I'd rather be drunk and moving than safe and sober

[ctekin]

As Americans, the fact that we have not used our wealth and ingenuity to develop viable public transportation is deplorable. It is the failure of our leadership, and it is symptomatic of the corporate greed that has had far too much influence over public policy for far too long. The solution to the drunk driving epidemic is public transportation, not stiffer fines every year. The sad thing is, drunk driving is such a wonderful cash cow for local governments, the politicians see no reason to do anything other than maintain the status quo.

If Barack Obama is smart, he will begin massive public transportation projects. It is expensive, but it is good spending, as long as there is a concerted effort to employ American companies, American Suppliers, and American workers. Believe it or not, these things are all still available. What do you want tax cuts for the rich or infrastructure for the working people of this great nation.

[Ddorsey]

He already has planned to allocate money to California's new project.

[HowietheScreamer]

Lack of viable public transport in the USA isn't an accident, it's the result of car manufacturers lobbying.

[TimNorman]

Yes more mass transit is needed. Also call a cab once a week when you drink if you call ahead they will often stay open for you.

In New Hampster we are raising scottish longhorns raised on grass and fattened for a month on microbrewers sludge!

[canaar]

Who do I contact about getting some of that processed beef to Alaska?

[HowietheScreamer]

Your dear sweet Governor.

[1differentdrummer]

Man, they must have a breath.

[vjoseph]

I would welcome any plans to have proper transit system, just for this.

[walk0nwalls]

A-Men