It had to happen, I suppose, but my local supermarket, a branch of Food Emporium, has now succumbed to the curse of Elizabeth Dole. It has instituted a mandatory carding policy for anyone, regardless of age, who wants to buy some beer. Adding insult to injury, the birth date of the suds-buying Methuselah has to be noted down before the sale can be rung up. Now, you’d think that this policy is dumb and demeaning enough for the Food Emporium’s fun police without any added refinements. Unfortunately, you’d be wrong. A loathsome little sign boasts (I hope I have written this down correctly – a red mist of rage was beginning to obscure my vision) that this insolent imposition was part of the company’s commitment to “our community” and, wait for it, you know what’s coming, “its children”. Bah!

Where is the ACLU when you need it?