Louisiana state senators have been hard at work recently drafting legislation to honor the Sazerac -- a drink containing "whiskey, sugar, bitters and absinthe, or a substitute anise-flavored liquor" -- as the official state cocktail. New Orleans is in such great shape, see, that they can spend their time writing all sorts of fun legislation celebrating drinks!

But some boring Dry senators had issues with the resolution, and it was defeated by a vote of 27-8 (five of those eight were from the New Orleans area, huzzah). Here is Sen. "Buddy" Shaw's logic: "Is there a possibility that we could be encouraging folks, who were not intending to drink, that it would be acceptable and they could become an alcoholic?" Yes, "they" should all become one collective alcoholic because that is how one gets through life.

[AP/NYT]