http://www.boston.com/news/odd/articles/2008/03/11/sample_the_beer_before_you_buy_it/

So Washington State lawmakers passed a pilot program to allow tastings in grocery stores so that breweries and wineries can market on a small budget. Still has to be signed by the Governor.

My issue with this news is at the end: "But opponents contend the program sets a bad example by exposing youth to alcohol consumption."

Ummm... I don't get how a youth seeing someone responsibly sampling a beer or two is a bad example. Drinking to excess? Bad example. Sipping on a couple ounces to try a beer because you want to drink it for taste... Neutral if not good example. People need to see that alcohol itself is not evil. Overconsumption is not great, but is fine (and fun) as long as your responsible about it. I think kids seeing responsible drinking is a GREAT example! When it's taboo, you get the issues we have now... binge drinking in high school and college when they finally get away from mom and dad who made drinking out to be this huge hush hush bad thing... so it MUST be fun!

thats pretty cool. I've only seen that happen once around here with beer, and that was at Whole Foods where I got sample some SN Harvest.

I've seen it in NH, pretty cool. We were up North in NH and in the beer isle they had a smuttynose rep doing a tasting, was pretty sweet.

Devon wrote:
I've seen it in NH, pretty cool. We were up North in NH and in the beer isle they had a smuttynose rep doing a tasting, was pretty sweet.

I remember that! I think the reason we don't see it in MA grocery stores much is because very few ever sell beer. I think I've seen beer tasting in Trader Joe's before, but can't say for sure.