This is The Last Straw! Time to Nuke EU HQ!

[Ben]

Now the bastards have just gone too far!!!!

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http://www.sky.com/skynews/article/0,,30200-13399577,00.html

BREAST NOT BEST, SAYS EU
Beer drinkers in Germany are frothing at the mouth over EU plans to make Bavarian barmaids cover up.

The aim of the proposed EU directive is to protect them from the sun's harmful rays.

But the so-called "tan ban" has been condemned as absurd by breweries, politicians - and the barmaids.

Bavarian barmaids typically wear a a costume known as a dirndl - a dress and apron with a tight, low-cut top enhanced by a short white blouse.

Under the EU's Optical Radiation Directive, employers must ensure staff who work outdoors cover up against the risk of sunburn.

Bavarian bar keepers have been told the dirndl will have to be replaced as it does not provide adequate protection.

They face heavy fines if they fail to comply with the new legislation, which goes before MEPs next month.

The Mayor of Munich, Christian Ude, said: "A waitress no longer allowed to wander around a beer garden in a plunging neckline - this is the EU at its most pedantic."

A spokesman for the Bavarian Hotel and Restaurant Union said: "I have spoken to lots of waitresses and none said sunburn in the decollete area was a problem."

Organisers of the world's biggest beer festival, Munich's Oktoberfest, are just as angry. "This is an attack on the traditions of the region," said a spokesman.

[wmenorr67]

Hopefully they will tell the EU FU!

[Sindawe]

Geee, I guess that wise folks that make up this stuff in EU have forgoten what happend the last time the German people felt put apon and got riled up against their neighbors.

[Bemidjiblade]

Good thing that the nice, liberal, well-balanced EU doesn't want to legislate morality etc.

But, as long as it's not about ethics, I guess they have no qualms completely dictating any and every aspect of people's livces.

[Preacherman]

There's a simple solution - offer regular patrons the opportunity to apply sunscreen at frequent intervals to the area in question.  I bet beer sales would double overnight!

[mfree]

....beer garden? Coupled with, er, decolletes, that just sounds vunderbar...

[garyk/nm]

Ahh...Biermadchen!
I lived near Munich for 4 years and Oktoberfest is like the Texas State Fair of beer. Wonderful memories (and a few blank spots). Most of the beermaids are , shall we say....stout. Think defensive lineman with pigtails and massive cleavage.  Double as bouncers.

"Hurts so good...."

[El Tejon]

After my experience in Munich I think the barmaids should be covered, hopefully in a burkha!  Wow and I thought I had seem some "stout" women in Chicago or New York City.  Wow!  Those girls were sneaking sips from the vats and skipping their pilates classes to nurse hangovers!  *shudder*

[Waitone]

I went to the Munich beer garden (forget the name) and was amazed by the beermaid who would carry 5 large steins in each hand to the tables.  That's ten steins filled with beer per trip all night.  Me thinks the lady had biceps Ahnuld would have envied.

The other thing I found interesting was the locker room just off the beer hall where the regulars could store their personal drinking ware.  Looked just like a high school gym locker room.  The regulars would finish their drinking, grab a paper towel, carefully wipe out the stein, and place it in an appropriate locker secured with a lock and key.  It was at that point I figured Chermans took their beer seriously and with great ceremony.

BTW, why the US be interested in recreating the EU on the North American continent is beyond me.  We don't need european style bureaucrats.  Our homegrown busybodies are plenty obnoxious.

[bytor94]

Oh how I miss Oktoberfest!  I was able to make five pilgramages to the Fount of all good beer while stationed in Germany.  I remember most of the trips

[Antibubba]

I guess the EU is working  hard to emulate the US, by creating numerous assinine laws that the citizenry wil end up simply ignoring.

[Iapetus]

I guess the EU is working  hard to emulate the US, by creating numerous assinine laws that the citizenry wil end up simply ignoring.

That reminds me of an interesting comment by a Law lecturer at my university:

English law is traditionally based on the principle that everything is legal unless there is a law prohibiting it.   French law is traditionally based on the principle that everything is prohibited unless a law allows it.

But the French long ago realised that that is a stupid principle, so got into the habit of ignoring any law they didn't like.  The English, on the other hand, are more used to taking the law seriously.

Which is why we tend to obey all the stupid EU regulations, whereas the French just ignore them (and the attempts to enforce them).

[Guest]

I guess the EU is working  hard to emulate the US, by creating numerous assinine laws that the citizenry wil end up simply ignoring.

this is the easy way to make everyone a criminal.

[Nightfall]

Hmm... I wonder how long it will be until they see a tanning ban or something. It's for your own good, after all. Only adults elected to government office are competent enough to make decisions about YOUR health, apparently.

[Stickjockey]

Only adults elected to government office are competent enough to make decisions about YOUR health, apparently.

"I'm the only one here professional enough to handle this tube of sunscreen..."