I think there are parallels to the Cask Marque program. Is that a good program?

He’ll welcome the input – and I think the goal is for the Cicerone.org site to soon have a discussion board.

When that happens let’s continue this discussion there.

The program appears to be on the right track (in terms of educating servers, sellers …). But isn’t it undermining itself with the minutiae?

These types of academic acheivement levels were an issue during the doomed-Beer Sommelier Certification Program, which I was lucky enough to have been on the planning committee back in 2001-ish. They are milestones to the seller/server, but they arbitrary to the consumer (the reason servers are taking the program in the first place, right?).

I think the bestowing of rather contrived sub-titles, or certification levels, to program participants is a step in the wrong direction. In fact, it’s limiting. Why not make this an on-going program, where participants test and re-test to maintain their status as a Cicerone?

I’m also wary of seeing a snob factor enter the beer world from the serving side. I’m not saying this would happen, or that the program will create snobbery (I’m not sure), just that it may open a door for servers to distinguish themselves as novice-experts, intermediate-experts or expert-experts.

My argument is a bit absurd, but possible. Will Cicerones be good for the consumer in the end? I’ll quietly wait and see. I’d love to witness how a business changes when its servers go from server-to-Cicerone status.

And yes, I’d gladly list a Cicerone in the next Beer Guppy, sans his/her levels.

I think it would be great if the next edition of the Beer Guppy’s Guide [to those who haven't heard of this book it is on my list to review] listed if a place had a certified Cicerone.

Even how many and what levels.

Particularly laudable, in my view, is their conclusion:

“Whatever the age, the danger is not in drinking a couple of beers, glasses of wine or spirits; it is the binge drinking all too common among both youth and adults, causing them to do damage to themselves and to others.

“Moving us away from that excess culture will take time, but it starts with parents who are prepared to face up to reality.”

Hmmm, I wonder if a major newspaper in the U.S. would have the guts to draw that conclusion?

I’d rather take a standardized drinking test. Sounds less silly.

What – is the land speed of a swallow?!