Bottles of Ogden's Own Distillery Five Wives Vodka are stocked at a state liquor store in Salt Lake City, Tuesday May 29, 2012. The Idaho State Liquor Division says the vodka won't be stocked or special ordered at stores operated by the state of Idaho, claiming the brand is offensive to Mormons who make up over a quarter of the state's population. 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. (AP Photo/Brian Skoloff)
Utah distillery's lawyer toasts Idaho's reversal of vodka ban
Published on Jun 20, 2012 07:54AM
The state of Idaho's decision to reverse its ban on Utah-made Five Wives Vodka is being celebrated by constitutional scholar Jonathan Turley -- the George Washigton University professor and lawyer who threatened to sue the Gem State over the ban.
On his blog, Turley commended John Anderson, director of the Idaho State Liquor Division, for reversing the decision to not stock Five Wives (made by Ogden's Own Distillery) - after concerns that the vodka's label might offend Idaho's Mormon population.
"Admitting error is not an easy thing to do in a public controversy but it was the right thing to do not just for Ogden’s Own but the people of Idaho," Turley wrote.
Then Turley gave a puckish nod to his clients and their product:
"It is particularly fortuitous that the very object of this particular first amendment fight can be used to celebrate its protection. Of course, as a lawyer of Irish heritage, fighting for both free speech and alcohol brought everything I hold dear together in one case. I will be opening my bottle of Five Wives Vodka tonight and enjoy the clean (and reasonably priced) taste of freedom. Congratulations to the fine people at Ogden’s Own. Many a civil libertarian will be lifting a glass tonight in your honor."
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