Rehab is for quitters

May 30th, 2008

Sang Amy Winehouse. Well she didn’t exactly say that, but the thought crossed my mind, when I stopped by my favourite wine shop in Cambridge called Bacchanalia.

Because the owner Paul Bowles was reading an article about his shop published in the Cambridge Evening News Calls to remove ‘taunting’ sign

A BILLBOARD outside an off-licence which states “Rehab is for Quitters” has been slammed for “taunting” alcoholics.
The sign outside wine shop Bacchanalia in Victoria Road, Cambridge, has offended residents and members of Alcoholics Anonymous because the message is shown opposite a meeting place for people battling addiction.

I did find this funny, although reading the article I can see there is a serious point to be made. However, it reminded of the sloppy journalism which Nick Davis talks about in his book Flat Earth News I mean “slammed”? What a word, and, I wonder how long the Journo’s had to write the article? What pressure did they have on time to deliver the piece?

And even the Mirror picked up the story with its own version of quality journalism, with the headline ‘Rehab is for Quitters’ sign put up outside Alcoholics Anonymous meeting

Which is complete rubbish. In the article, there was no mention about Alcopops sold in all supermarkets, newsagents and garage forecourts. No mention of Happy Hours and Pints for a quid, or pitchers of something very strong sold for a fiver. It’s just biased cods-wallop.

Now this is where blogs become interesting, because, this is my unmediated view of the above story. I know the owner for at least ten years. Paul does not sell cheap alchohol of any description. He does not do buy-one- get-one-free. He takes his job seriously, he supplies to a wide variety of clientel. And his signs have been there for as long as I have known him. I consult Paul on wines that I might like to try and he suggests and happily recommends.

He does proper wine tasting evenings and is very knowledgable.

There is a hostel in Victoria road (where Paul’s shop is), but it is not; any where near to, next to, on top of, opposite, or even outside an AA meeting place/hostel.

Now I would have thought that if the hostel felt that sensitive they might have had a quiet word with Paul? And I wonder why the Cambridge Evening News did not call up Paul to make an appointment for an interview? And, there is nothing wrong in traveling up to London to go to a wine tasting – because that what people who take their wine seriously do. (I mention this as “Paul was not available to comment”)

So if you want great wine, which is not the 12% sugar based stuff, often sold as quality, (a good wine should have about 1% natural sugar), and if you want good quality honest advice, drop by Bacchanalia in Victoria Road, Cambridge. If you want to read quality journalism on the other hand, that is fact-checked, honest and relevant well, god knows where you go for that these days!

Paul will be on 5 Live this Sunday having his say – and quite right too.

So shame on you Cambridge Evening News, such journalism does a grave disservice to your profession and the integrity of your business. If you want to be a trusted part of the community do some proper reporting. Trust is what makes communities thrive and survive. You have an important role to play in local life, its so disappointing to see articles such as these, picked up by the the PA and disseminated to begin the process of chinese whispers taking