August 4, 2003 -- For several years now, the New Belgium Brewing Company of Fort Collins, Colorado, have sponsored a charity fund-raising promotion called the 'Tour de Fat.' And for several years, it has gone off without a hitch.

Not so this year, though. In Santa Cruz, California, after initially receiving approval for the event and its subsequent, charity-benefiting beer sales, New Belgium was at the last minute told that they could have their event, but not their beer.

According to BEERWeek, the email beer newsletter (www.beerweek.com), the rejection came directly from Santa Cruz Police Chief Steve Belcher. Said Belcher: "First of all, a municipal code prohibits the sale of alcohol at the park, so I couldn't legally sign off. But I also don't think it is a good idea to have alcohol at a transportation-related event."

Bear in mind that New Belgium has operated this event for four years, in up to 15 cities, without a single incident. And that approval was initially given by city representatives, regardless of the Chief's municipal code concerns.

Perhaps someone should show the Chief the widely published photo of Lance Armstrong, America's cycling sweetheart, completing his victory lap of the Tour de France last week with a flute of Champagne in hand. And remind the Chief that it is quite common for endurance athletes to drink beer upon the completion of their events as a means of replenishing expended calories.

As Santa Cruz organizer Rick Graves put it: "This was a plan for responsible drinking in a contained area. It's not like we're a bunch of frat boys getting people drunk and sending people off on bikes."

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