Censorship of Beer Labels Stopped

The ACLU successfully challenged regulations purported to give the Washington Liquor Control Board authority to prohibit labels on beer bottles that the Board believes are "immodest, undignified, or in bad taste." The Board agreed to remove all such vague and arbitrary provisions from its regulations for labels and advertisements. The Board had objected to label on a Belgian brew that featured impressionistic artwork showing an unclothed woman holding a beer and sitting on the lap of Gambrinus, the mythical king of beers. With the ACLU preparing a lawsuit on behalf of the beer's importer, the Board in March, 2000 enacted an interim policy reflecting ACLU's concerns and approved the label in question for sale in the state.