This is going to bring out some of the vegan purists out there I’m sure. But as far as I’m concerned beer and wine is vegan. And what makes me an authority on that? Well, me and some factual digging around.
I’m sick of our #FirstWorldProblems. And vegans have many first world problems to complain about. The top of them being sugar and wine and beer not being vegan. Boo hoo. Are you walking around naked, living in a hut, sweeping the ground ahead of you very carefully with a very soft brush like a Jain monk, and walking only on hard dirt? No, then get over the fucking beer and wine already. And the sugar while you’re at it.
I ain’t mad at you. I’m just sick of people thinking that veganism is only possible in the developed world because it’s a luxury that only we can afford. And why do they think that. Because of sniveling, whiny vegans who can’t eat sugar and drink beer because it’s NOT vegan.
Get over it already. As far as I’m concerned it is vegan. And with what authority can I say that? ‘Cos I’m the mutha fucking El Presidente of the Vegan Federales. That’s how 😉
But seriously, I mean come on already. If you’re wearing shoes. If you use a pen. If you drive a car or a bike. That means use transit. If you paint anything, anywhere at all. You’re #NotVegan! All of the above mentioned items actually CONTAIN animal derived ingredients. Beer and wine and sugar, which I’ll bitch about another time, DON’T.
Here’s some more info you can read up on about isinglass which is made from sturgeon’s bladders and is used to refine some beers and wine. The sturgeon is not a surgeon but a fish. Sometimes gelatin is used in that respect as well. The thing to understand is that none of this shit actually ends up in the finished beer or wine. Another thing to understand is that a lot of brewers and vintners are choosing synthetic options to clarify their products.
Yeah playa’, I’m saying that Guinness is vegan too. Okay, they use isinglass, get over your vegan self already. Drinking Guinness is better than drinking milk anyway, any day. Bottoms up.
I remember those first 7 halcyon days of being vegan, when I knew that I could be as pure as the driven snow. 25 years later I’ve woken up. There is no purity in veganism. It is not possible nor is it necessarily desirable. Do you think Donald Watson and the founding fathers and mothers of veganism knew about isinglass and bone charcoal refined sugar? I doubt it.
Also, perhaps you should read up again on what it actually means to be vegan. Let’s go to the source: Veganism is a way of living which seeks to exclude, as far as is possible and practicable, all forms of exploitation of, and cruelty to, animals for food, clothing or any other purpose. From ‘junk food vegans’ to raw food vegans – and everything in between – there’s a version of veganism to suit everyone. Yet one thing we all have in common is a plant-based diet avoiding all animal foods such as meat, dairy, eggs and honey – as well as products like leather and any tested on animals.
As far as is possible and practicable. That’s the rub vegan friendo. Let’s focus on the big things, the easy wins. If we continue to remain whiny navel gazing, sniveling vetards then how will we ever garner big wins for the movement and more importantly the animals.
I have seen estimates that 45% of slaughtered animal parts is non-edible and used for other mechanisms other than meat. A big chunk of that will likely be leather. If we can take care of the big stuff. Get people to stop eating animals and their fluids and menstrual waste (eggs) and stop wearing their hides, it will naturally become less likely that society will be able to condone their slaughter for just the by-products.
And we’re gonna win more people over to the vegan side if we make it easier than harder. Badgering your buddy about the beer he’s drinking, or even letting him see how much of an ascetically pure vegan you are is not gonna impress anyone.
If you like the odd beer or glass of wine, then drink it. I don’t, because it’s not good for you despite what you’ve been misled to believe. But shit, I do stuff all the time that’s not good for me. I don’t drink because I abuse it. But if you do, enjoy it. It’s fucking vegan already!
But if you’re really gonna be an arsehole about it then you can check out PeTA’s list of ‘pure’ vegan beers, but honestly, I’d rather you’d stop being a vegan dick about such things.