'Five Wives' Vodka offensive to residents

[Hum]

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) - Five Wives Vodka was named in bad taste and won't be stocked or special ordered at stores operated by the state of Idaho, regulators said.

The middle-shelf vodka is made by Ogden's Own Distillery in Utah, where the Mormon church is based. Its label carries the name and an image of five women, an apparent reference to polygamy, a practice abandoned by the church more than a century ago.

Idaho State Liquor Division administrator Jeff Anderson said the brand is offensive to Mormons who make up over a quarter of Idaho's population.

Regulators in Idaho notified Elite Spirits Distributor that the brand's concept is "offensive to a prominent segment of our population and will not be carried," according to a letter sent Thursday.

"The bottom line is, we represent everybody," Anderson added Tuesday. "It's masterful marketing on their part. But it doesn't play here."

Anderson said state stores already make hundreds of vodka brands available for sale and don't have room for another brand priced at around $20 a bottle.

Ogden's Own Distillery is trying to make the most of the rejection with a media campaign and sale of "Free the Five Wives" T-shirts.

It says the snub is unfair because a Utah beer named Polygamy Porter is available in Idaho. Anderson said Idaho doesn't decide what beer brands can be sold in grocery and convenience stores.

"We're a little dumbfounded by it all," said Steve Conlin, a partner and marketing chief for Ogden's Own Distillery. "The average person can look at our bottle and they don't find it offensive. It's certainly not obscene, which is what it would require for it to be banned."

Five Wives Vodka has been approved for sale in Utah, a state dominated by members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It's also available in Wyoming, another state that regulates liquor sales.

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[The Laughing Man]

Idaho....yea about that state.

[Deliciously_Random]

"Five Wives Vodka has been approved for sale in Utah, a state dominated by members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints."

So Utah is a theocracy? Seems the US is slowly turning into one. smh

[bjoswald]

Probably a bunch of nagging, old, menopausal women that can't find partners. :laugh:

[Hum]

"Five Wives Vodka has been approved for sale in Utah, a state dominated by members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints."

So Utah is a theocracy? Seems the US is slowly turning into one. smh

Just wait for Romney ... :shiftyninja:

[Noir Angel]

Ugh. These days you could cough and you'd probably be able to find a god botherer that was offended by it. Come and join us in the 21st century, it's not as bad as it seems... honest!

[De.Bug]

"Don't drink it maybe? Don't look at it maybe? Nope, ban it. I must not have to think about something I do not approve of." Religious people for you there.

[Memphis]

I left my second job here in Idaho because of militant Mormons.

[FloatingFatMan]

Since when did they abandon polygamy? We still see regular stories about mormon polygamists...

[Hum]

^ The regular LDS church banned the practice, mainly to get Utah statehood.

There is a 'Reformed' mormon church, that still takes part in multiple wives, and alleged forced child brides.

[Southern Patriot]

"Five Wives Vodka has been approved for sale in Utah, a state dominated by members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints."

So Utah is a theocracy? Seems the US is slowly turning into one. smh

Not really a theocracy, but a good majority of the residents (and therefore the politicians) are Mormon.

From Wikipedia

Utah is the most religiously homogeneous state in the Union. It is home to the Salt Lake Temple, and approximately 63% of Utahns are reported to be members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormons) which greatly influences Utah culture and daily life.

When most of the people in a state are the same faith, it is kind of hard for their beliefs NOT to be part of how the state itself operates.

[compl3x]

When most of the people in a state are the same faith, it is kind of hard for their beliefs NOT to be part of how the state itself operates.

Doesn't mean they deserve special treatment or special protection against offence.

-------

If you had 5 wives I don't doubt you'd need plenty of vodka.

[Southern Patriot]

Doesn't mean they deserve special treatment or special protection against offence.

It wasn't even Utah that banned the vodka. Go back and read the article. Utah allowed it (I'm guessing some of the leaders there have a sense of humor), Idaho banned it, supposedly out of respect for the Mormons in their state. Apparently Idaho is also a predominantly Mormon state as well: http://www.city-data.com/states/Idaho-Religions.html

[compl3x]

It wasn't even Utah that banned the vodka. Go back and read the article. Utah allowed it (I'm guessing some of the leaders there have a sense of humor), Idaho banned it, supposedly out of respect for the Mormons in their state. Apparently Idaho is also a predominantly Mormon state as well: http://www.city-data...-Religions.html

I meant in general.

[Southern Patriot]

I meant in general.

In pretty much any democratic society, when the majority of people find something offensive, the government generally does tend to regulate it rather closely. A good example would be how Germany (and many other European countries) ban any Nazi paraphernalia. Or how many places in the US don't allow women to go topless at beaches. Laws are usually based around community standards. Not sure how it works in Australia, but that's how it works here.

[Buttus]

is it the five wives part that bothers them? or the vodka? or the idea that if you had five wives, you'd need vodka?

[Calum Veteran]

It's ridiculous that any Mormon would find this reference to polygamy offensive. Nothing about the vodka even references Mormonism and it doesn't state anything bad about polygamy.

More ridiculous people doing what they do best: Being ridiculous.

[compl3x]

In pretty much any democratic society, when the majority of people find something offensive, the government generally does tend to regulate it rather closely. A good example would be how Germany (and many other European countries) ban any Nazi paraphernalia. Or how many places in the US don't allow women to go topless at beaches. Laws are usually based around community standards. Not sure how it works in Australia, but that's how it works here.

The people didn't even find it offensive, and there is already a beer called Polygamy Porter, so something else is obviously going on here.

As far as something being offensive: it's usually true a small group of people are very vocal about something, usually trivial or inoffensive to most other people, and weak willed politicians cave in.

[Southern Patriot]

It's ridiculous that any Mormon would find this reference to polygamy offensive. Nothing about the vodka even references Mormonism and it doesn't state anything bad about polygamy.

More ridiculous people doing what they do best: Being ridiculous.

A lot of Mormons seem to be a bit touchy about the polygamy thing, especially with all of the attention it has gotten in the media in recent years. Even though the mainstream LDS church abandoned the practice a century ago, there are still some groups calling themselves Mormon who still do it. As far as the label goes, the women appear to be wearing traditional Mormon clothes, which women in some of the polygamous groups still wear.

If someone made a brand of liquor called "72 Virgins", with a picture of a bunch of women in burkas, you can bet that Muslims would be furious over it, don't you think?

[threetonesun]

Mormons don't drink alcohol either, so, they're really getting worked up over nothing.

More offensive is a $20 bottle of vodka. :laugh:

[Hum]

It's ridiculous that any Mormon would find this reference to polygamy offensive. Nothing about the vodka even references Mormonism and it doesn't state anything bad about polygamy.

More ridiculous people doing what they do best: Being ridiculous.

Haha -- you misspelled Mormon. :laugh:

[Calum Veteran]

Haha -- you misspelled Mormon. :laugh:

Did I really? Maybe you should check the post and quotes again. . . .

;) :p

A lot of Mormons seem to be a bit touchy about the polygamy thing, especially with all of the attention it has gotten in the media in recent years. Even though the mainstream LDS church abandoned the practice a century ago, there are still some groups calling themselves Mormon who still do it. As far as the label goes, the women appear to be wearing traditional Mormon clothes, which women in some of the polygamous groups still wear.

If someone made a brand of liquor called "72 Virgins", with a picture of a bunch of women in burkas, you can bet that Muslims would be furious over it, don't you think?

You make some fair points. But I'm still not seeing it. I just don't understand why anyone would be offended by this.

Polygamy was originally a part of Mormon beliefs and it is still practised by some Mormons. People becomming offended by polygamy would suggest there is something wrong with it, but I don't think there is. Even if there was something wrong with it, why would people become offended by it? Would many Christians become offended if there was a brand of vodka named Traditional Marriage, which featured a man and woman dressed as a bride and groom on the label?

As you can see, I really don't understand this case; I don't understand why people are becomming offended.

[Hum]

Did I really? Maybe you should check the post and quotes again. . . .

;) :p

Nothing about the vodka even references Mormanism ...

You still missed one :p

[Southern Patriot]

Mormons don't drink alcohol either, so, they're really getting worked up over nothing.

More offensive is a $20 bottle of vodka. :laugh:

Yeah, true, so it is a double insult to them. As for the price, if it is a decent vodka, I'd have no issue paying $20 for a bottle. Hell, even a cheap bottle goes for $10-12. I've seen some decent brands go for close to $30. Great ones are even more.

[threetonesun]

Yeah, true, so it is a double insult to them. As for the price, if it is a decent vodka, I'd have no issue paying $20 for a bottle. Hell, even a cheap bottle goes for $10-12. I've seen some decent brands go for close to $30. Great ones are even more.

"Great" is very relative with vodka. You can take a $5 jug of it and turn it into great vodka at home with some filters.