TITLE OF ARTICLE: Does Vodka Have Taste?

              AUTHOR: Lipman, Joanne
              JOURNAL NAME: The Wall Street Journal
              DATE: June 28, 1989
              PAGE(S) B6
              ACCESSION NUMBER: 07
              SENSE(S): Taste

              ABSTRACT: Vodka producers claim in their
              advertising that vodka has a taste, or a
              distinctive taste. The U.S. government,
              specifically the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and
              Arms, is not, however, happy with such claims, as
              this government agency insists vodka has no
              distinctive character, aroma, or taste.
              <LK107 TASTE>

              But a spokesman for the Bureau confirms industry
              speculation that the government is considering to
              allow vodka advertisers to say in a limited way
              this beverage has taste. Some confusion remains on
              how the government will allow this claim to be
              made. The stakes are large because domestic vodka
              producers would like to increase their share of the
              highly competitive American vodka market by means
              of ads that emphasize or mention taste.
              <LK151 BEVERAGES ARTICLE THEMES>

RESEARCHERS QUOTED IN ARTICLE: None

