Free Republic

The U.S. government is expected to eliminate from its dietary guidelines the long-standing recommendation that adults limit alcohol consumption to one or two drinks per day, according to three sources familiar with the matter, in what could be a major win for an industry threatened by heightened scrutiny of alcohol's health effects. The updated Dietary Guidelines for Americans, which could be released as early as this month, are expected to include a brief statement encouraging Americans to drink in moderation or limit alcohol intake due to associated health risks, the sources said. *** Currently, the recommendations advise limiting drinking to...

A common energy drink ingredient has been linked to the progression of the blood cancer leukemia, prompting researchers to voice concerns about the consumption of those beverages. Taurine — an amino acid that occurs naturally in proteins like meat and fish — is a common ingredient in energy drinks like Red Bull. As the Mayo Clinic explains it can help balance fluids, salts and minerals. But according to research published in Nature, taurine may promote leukaemogenesis — the development of leukemia cells — and “identifies taurine as a key regulator of myeloid malignancies,” which, like leukemia, are cancers that begin...

Washington -- America’s craft brewers already have enough problems. Hard seltzers and cocktails are muscling into beer sales. Millennials and Gen Z don’t drink as much as their elders. Brewpubs still haven’t fully recovered from the shock of COVID-19 five years ago. Now there’s a new threat: President Donald Trump’s tariffs, including levies of 25 per cent on imported steel and aluminum and on goods from Canada and Mexico. “It’s going to cost the industry a substantial amount of money,” said Matt Cole, brewmaster at Ohio-based Fat Head’s Brewery. Trump’ trade war “will be crippling for our industry if this...

When thinking about the best vodka to drink, brands such as Grey Goose, Ketel One, and Absolute come to mind. However, with so many choices on the market, it can be overwhelming and tough to figure out the difference between great marketing and great product. We’ve cut to the chase and lined up only those worth drinking to help you get the best bang for your buck. Our list includes vodka options if you’re looking for something cheap, strong, or expensive, and we believe we’ve found the perfect vodka for every occasion.

Welcome back to our monthly guide to all things whisk(e)y. Please check out our more in-depth looks at new releases here, including bottles from Angel’s Envy, BHAKTA, The Macallan, Octomore, SirDavis, Row 94 and more.

HONOLULU (KHON2) -- Microplastics are tiny pieces of plastic that come from larger plastic items breaking down over time. These small particles can last for hundreds of years and can enter our bodies through the food we eat, the water we drink and the air we breathe. The University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa has started a groundbreaking study to explore how these microplastics affect our lung health, thanks to a three-year grant of $352,126 from the National Science Foundation. Professor Yi Zuo is a professor of mechanical engineering in the College of Engineering and adjunct professor of pediatrics in the...

Arcane tax rules based on carbonation levels are flattening the growth of America's craft cider industry. America's tax code is notoriously convoluted, but the complexity really sparkles when it comes to the federal government's approach to alcohol taxation. Wine, beer, and liquor are all subject to varying tax rates based on intricate calculations, but the so-called "bubble tax" for hard cider is the star of this regulatory circus. Unbeknownst to most Americans, the tax rate for alcoholic cider is based on, among other things, the amount of carbonation the drink contains. Yes, America technically already has a carbon tax and...

A woman has revealed her husband walked off, leaving her to deal with the fallout, after she accidentally ordered a cocktail that had a price tag of over two thousand dollars. Lynsey took to social media to reveal she, her husband and her sister had been staying at a five-star hotel in London for New Year’s Eve. She and her husband went down to the hotel bar for a drink, and she ordered a cocktail that featured Cristal champagne, with sprinkled gold leaf and a 30-year-old whisky. The cocktail had a price tag of £1890, which is roughly $2,356 once...

(Last Updated On: May 23, 2023) NATIONAL MINT JULEP DAY | MAY 30 National Mint Julep Day on May 30th each year sets up a refreshing toast to summer. Each year, people around the country gather for a glass of mint julep! This refreshing southern classic is a traditional drink of the Kentucky Derby. #MintJulepDay A classic mint julep is made with a mint leaf, bourbon, sugar, and water. In the Southern states, where mint julep is more associated with the cuisine, spearmint is the mint of choice. Preparation of the drink may vary from one bartender to another. Some...

U.S. food and beverage companies are racing to keep operations running during a nationwide shortage of carbon dioxide. Companies including Tyson Foods and Kraft Heinz Co. have been searching for carbon dioxide as supply disruptions this summer exacerbated existing shortages, threatening production of goods from cold cuts to beer. Carbon dioxide is widely used throughout food and beverage industries, including to stun animals before they are slaughtered and to chill and process meat. The gas puts the pop in soft drinks and the fizz in beer, and is turned into dry ice to keep food frozen. [Snip] Maintenance shutdowns at...

A group of hazardous synthetic chemicals called PFAS, which don’t break down in the environment, have been found in rainwater across the globe at levels which make it unsafe to drink, according to a new study. Link to The Science: Stockholm University

The U.S. economy shrank at an annualized pace of 1.6% in the first quarter, reflecting a deeper contraction than previously reported. The Bureau of Economic Analysis's third and final estimate of first-quarter GDP released Wednesday morning showed a 1.6% annualized drop in economic growth to start 2022, more than the 1.5% previously reported and which was expected by economists, according to estimates from Bloomberg. Real gross domestic product (GDP) decreased at an annual rate of 1.6 percent in the first quarter of 2022, according to the Real gross domestic product (GDP) decreased at an annual rate of 1.6 percent in...

American GIs in World War II did not get to experience many creature comforts. Sustained mostly by C-Rations and whatever could be made in a field kitchen, troops were halfway around the world from the tastes of home. There was one exception. Every serviceman had access to a supply of Coca-Cola. This was done through a global network of bottling plants, technological innovations, and an entire unit whose job was to ensure that soda supplies never ran dry. In 1943, Dwight Eisenhower sent a request to the head of Coca-Cola. Eisenhower requested 10 portable Coca-Cola factories near the frontlines. This...

I was an ’80s baby, so this was well before my time. But apparently in the wacky culinary headspace of the 1960s, people used to drink one very particular soda, warmed but not boiled, for good cheer and good tidings. That soda was Dr. Pepper. To be honest, out of all the sodas I could see being warmed up, it’d certainly be The Good Doctor. There’s the cherry and prune overtones, a little caffeine, syrupy sweetness—what’s not to like? Matador Network has the story of the sweet hot times, from way back when. I was made aware of it by...

Left-wing songwriter and singer Richard Marx shared his disdain for Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) in a social media post on Sunday, telling his 302k Twitter followers he would love to hug Rene Bouche, Paul’s neighbor who attacked him. Marx said he’d buy Bouche “as many drinks as he can consume.” “I’ll say it again: If I ever meet Rand Paul’s neighbor I’m going to hug him and buy him as many drinks as he can consume,” the Grammy award-winning 1980s pop star said.

Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) escalated his feud with the federal government's leading infectious diseases expert on Monday, calling Anthony Fauci a "petty tyrant" for suggesting Americans vaccinated against the coronavirus should not eat or drink indoors. "Fauci continues to ignore 100 years of vaccine science," Paul wrote in a tweet Monday morning. "His only real theme is 'do what I say' even when it makes no sense." Americans who have recovered from or been vaccinated against the coronavirus should "go about your life," Paul said. "Eat, drink, work, open the schools. Enough with the petty tyrants!" Fauci, during an appearance...

Some say it takes 300 shots to learn to love baijiu. Beijing loves it so much it recently spent three times its defense budget on the drink. Newcomers to China are usually horrified by their first encounter with baijiu, the fiery spirit consumed at banquets and family dinners, typically comparing it to jet fuel, paint stripper or drain cleaner. Even long-term expatriates often shudder at the stuff. ... cracks open a bottle of National Cellar 1573, made by Sichuan’s Luzhou Laojiao distillery. “This was not simply a magnificent baijiu,” he writes. “It was a magnificent drink. Period.” Usually made with...

U.S. manufacturing output rebounded more than expected in November, as the end of an almost six-week strike at General Motors plants boosted auto production. The Federal Reserve said on Tuesday that manufacturing production rose 1.1% last month after a downwardly revised 0.7% fall in October. Industrial output also rose 1.1% in November after a downwardly revised drop of 0.9% in October. Excluding motor vehicles and parts, overall industrial production and manufacturing output in November rose 0.5% and 0.3% respectively. Economists polled by Reuters had forecast overall manufacturing output would rise 0.7% and industrial output would increase 0.8% in November. Production...

CHICAGO (CBS)– There was yet another mass shooting on Chicago’s streets overnight Saturday into Sunday – the third now in a period of about a week. As CBS 2’s Jeremy Ross reported Sunday, the shooting came as police reported they are dealing with escalating arsenals of artillery on the streets. Police were called at 2:47 a.m. Sunday for the latest shooting in the 3500 block of West Lake Street, near St. Louis Avenue, in the West Side’s East Garfield Park neighborhood. According to police, the victims were among over 100 people attending a street party. Police said several altercations occurred...

A former political opponent of Rep. Matt Gaetz pleaded guilty Thursday to throwing a drink at him after a town hall meeting in June. Authorities say Amanda Kondrat'yev, 35, threw a red liquid at Gaetz, a Florida Republican, as he left a Pensacola restaurant where he was holding an “Open Gaetz” event, the Pensacola News Journal reported.