IndistinctDreamer

I assume most of you know what a cherry ripe is, those that dont:
https://www.google.com.au/search?q=C...Kc2QiQee1oDgBQ

Basically a chocolate bar with cherries in it.
So turnes out Cherry ripe happen to have a small amount of alcohol in them which means it should not be consumed? is this right? the law on alcohol still applies in this context does it not?
I also had to stop drinking a lemon lime and bitters cordial I use to buy ( I assumed because its a cordial there wouldn't be alcohol in it), turns out there is also a very small amount of alcohol in that which isn't listen, had to call them up to ask.

LordOfGoblins

Yes I would eat one and I do eat them at least once a week...

Fadl

Yes, you are correct in your understanding. If you ate one, I wouldn't get too worried, but the Guardian has explained this and you can find it in volumes such as "Lights of Guidance" or "Directives of the Guardian". If nobody digs it up, I will search later and share it. But in a nut shell, any consumption of alcohol is discouraged unless it is medicinal and prescribed by a doctor.


When I first started into this post I almost thought it was spam and was going to report it. Good thing my eye is quicker than my clicking finger.

LordOfGoblins

i think too be too nitpicky can also be bad. I mean look at all the toxins we dinrk in our water every day. Such a small amont of alcohol isnt even noticed in by our brains...

Lets say you go to someones house and they offer a cake with a tiny amount of alcohol. They are being nice and hospitibal.
Do you politely reject their kind offer?
It is very socially awkward thing to do. But to reject someone offering an alcoholic beverage at least you can say that that beverage is alcoholic. The cake on the other hand has a tiny amount of alcohol which probably wont even be noticed after it has been cooked...

IndistinctDreamer

I see consumption of alcohol more of a morality and purity issue rather than the little it has on my brain

In all honesty I would decline but at the same time explain that I simply do not consume alcohol. But alcohol doesn't burn off in cooking from what I've read anyways ( I think it was if something cooks for 3-4 hours there's still about %10 of the alcohol remaining)

I know there was a piece of writing somewhere that said alcohol in things such as vanilla essence has no set ruling and is up to the individual believer but I can never knowingly consume something that has alcohol in it no matter the amount.

I'm not sure if this is in the writings or not but I remember someone telling me that even if a single drop of alcohol was placed in a huge amount of water it became unworthy of consumption (something along those lines I don't remember the quote exactly)

Fadl

Well, I can't tell you what to do, but the Guardian was asked about these things and he answered. Up to you if you are going to follow it.

I've had such offers, and rejected them politely, and once I ate something like that unknowing, and descretely removed it from my mouth and didn't have more, because I don't think it is true that 'a little won't hurt.' Out of lots of little drops the ocean is formed. It may not hurt me individually for have a tiny bite, but then I am contributing to the problem by not making a stand against it, not standing up for my values and principals and without shame, and by helping perpetuate in even a small way something that is in many ways the plague of the western world.

Some of the teachings are hard to follow at times, but for me, the no alcohol is a simple one and I'm never ashamed to refuse even tiny confectionery with a tinsy bit of liqeur and I do it just as easily as I would refuse just a tinsy pinch of cocaine or heroine.

LordOfGoblins

yeh but then you offend them with your awkward 'i dont want your cake' and the rest of the evening becomes weird...

IndistinctDreamer

More along the line of : sorry but I don't consume alcohol, a glass of water would be nice thou.

yes it may be a very small amount but its a matter of my personal beliefs and values.

That's probably what I would say

Alternativly:
WHAT ALCOHOL IN CAKE? BLASPHEMY!!! BURN THEM!!!

which one would you say? haha kidding

I also think of it in the context of offering a vegetarian meat...

LordOfGoblins

in terms of taking a stand against things though. If you were to take a stand against everthing that is contrary to the law of God even the tiniest amount you find yourlse a very busy man.
I dont know im not firm in saying i have the right approach and its not right if its going against SHoghi effendi but rejecting alcholic drinks are socially awkward enoguh as it is i find.
I still reject a drink of course. Every year at Christmas party of my dads relatives this same thing happens.
as for rejecting tiny bits of poison. Poison is everywhere. the water i was drinking for a long time was full of copper surly that is worse for me than a tiny bit of alcohol that goes unnoticed.
Is it the drunkness that is poison or the alcohol itself?
Alcohol is not a very strong poison when compared to other poisons. It will fry your liver eventually but it wont if consumed in tiny amounts...

Fadl

If there was marijauna or cocaine in them, would you offend them then?

In my experience, people don't really get offended if you don't compromise your values, they tend to understand and respect it.

Perhaps you are not as offended by aclohol as you would be by other drugs because you are western, and in western society it is just that normal and we are unaware as westerners how bad it really is.

tonyfish58

If I know it has Alcohol I will say no, have done even when I really wanted a piece of that cake :-)

As for Cherry ripe - The jury is still out on them - There is a lot of rubbish on the net - One poster said that they had an email from Cadbury that stated there was no Alcohol in them, some other said that alcohol was used to clean the cutting blades so there would be trace...etc etc etc.

So me - If I wanted a Cherry Ripe I would eat one - The ingredients do not give alcohol as a content. I would think you would have to by law if there was?

What about Rum & Rasin Chocolate - It is only flavors as far as I am aware, no alcohol

Regards Tony

LordOfGoblins

i am just not good at expressing myself then. Cos it happens before and an odd silence fell over everyone..

Fadl

I agree with you, Tony. If it is as you have stated above, I would have one too, unless I just don't like them-and I have yet to see or taste one.

tonyfish58

I used to like them - Way too sweet for me now. Also give Heart Burn, so must have something mean in them. I walk past them and would prefer a little of a Fruit and nut dark chocolate

But as you get older you get wider

Cheers Tony

Fadl

The odd silence is the thing that ought to make everyone worry. "Let me get this straight, I'm the guy saying I don't want alcohol, which is a drug by the way, and y'all look at me like I'm the crazy one? How did that come to be! Anyway, y'all enjoy it if you want, but I just can't because its against my faith and principles, and, I probably don't have the necessary extra brains cells you all have so just excuse me, OK?
"
There is no reason to be shy about being different especially when the thing making you different is sensible and makes you odd but in a favorable way.

armin

The general law is that anything that deranges the mind is prohibited. And this is the main purpose and goal of all the prohibitions on different substances such as alcohol and opium. The questions you should be asking yourself are, do I feel different (in a negative way as it pertains to your soul) after eating a Cherry Ripe bar? And, assuming that consuming many bars would raise the blood alcohol level enough am I buying the Cherry Ripe to get intoxicated, or I just enjoy eating a chocolate cherry bar!? You are your own judge!

Generally speaking many things that we eat contain alcohol or other prohibited substances. Our body itself produces alcohol so it's not that we draw a line and say anything that has alcohol in it goes outside, is prohibited, and the rest are good to go.

tonyfish58

I got fired from a job one day as a direct result of not partaking in the alcohol offered to me by many at a bar. This was 6 years before I became a Baha'i.

I was selling Golf equipment and giving golf lessons to burly miners The day after I would not have a beer with them I saw no one, sold not a thing, gave no lessons. I got a call from the boss to come the 2000+km home and no more job?

I was always proud that I made a decision and stuck by it. After finding Baha'u'llah it became Oh so much easier

Regards Tony

IndistinctDreamer

I would think it is illegal but I called up the hotline for my lemon lime and bitters cordial today to make sure there's no alcohol in there as I am aware bitters can and does have alcohol in it, I assumed it was bitters flavouring but it turns out there's alcohol in there but its not stated.

Hmm.. should I sue? Only kidding I'll just send them a lengthy letter threatening to sue until they put it on their label.

Edit:
Wow Tony, props to you man.

Rani

If alcohol is not listed as an ingredient on the wrapper, I don't see what the issue should be?
I mean, aren't they required by law to list every ingredient?

But I wouldn't have one anyway, because I don't like foods with added cane sugar. They are not healthy for me.

tonyfish58

An official email or a copy of their letter of reply would be good

Until then the ingredients on the bottle leave my mind clear of guilt.

There is more to worry about in life than partaking of a minute amount of alcohol in a substance that has not been disclosed.

I also drink the lemon lime & bitters cordial from time to time

Cheers Tony

IndistinctDreamer

Indeed there are like my exams Ha! but the little things in life count. I endeavour to follow the writings no matter how small or meager it may be.
I find its through little things everyday that we begin to slip up.

Edit: oh but I'll message you a copy of the email once i receive it (if its any good that is, most likely some corporate generic statement of how very sorry they are)

tonyfish58

Yes an official reply would make me act

It is interesting statement you have made - It is much bigger than the comment itself "I endeavour to follow the writings no matter how small or meager it may be".

Have you considered that we are to be loyal to our governments and laws as well?

I wonder how many contemplate that taking a sicky from work, going a bit over the speed limit, dodge a little bit of tax etc etc is actually against the writings?

It is a big ask that we some how have to put into our daily lives....Who else has a long way to go

Cheers Tony

IndistinctDreamer

Have managed to not do any of the above yet haha, then again I didn't need to pay tax on my income this year.
I admit I have gone a little over the speed limit at times but always try to maintain a safe driving speed not only to follow the law (both God's and Government) but so that I don't end up destroying someone else vehicle and potentially injuring them.
But to answer your question I would think not many. People tend to forget the little things haha or they just don't see the importance behind it.

Essence of GOD

the whole purpose of not consuming alcohol and not doing drugs, is for not altering your mind and for detachment from useless addictions.
i doubt a candy bar with little alcohol in it would do either. so yes, i would eat it.

stop following rules blindly , investigate the truth.

Zhang

Fadl you're sick, what kind of cherries do you eat???

I'm sure the candy is fine :P I agree with essence.

IndistinctDreamer

Here it is Tom:

Thank you for your recent feedback regarding Bickford's lemon Lime & Bitters Cordial, we appreciate the time you have taken to contact us.

I have consulted with our Compliance Manager and he has given me the below response to your concerns.

The products are assessed and certified as Halal compliant and the products have been reformulated to remove the ethanol carrier for flavours and where there is any trace of alcohol present it is below the level specified by the Islamic Federation of Australia.

These products are consumed by Muslims here in Australia and are accepted in Malaysia, Indonesia, UAE and Dubai.

We are not required by law to declare any alcohol %age below 0.05% as it not deemed as ingredient as it is an ingredient of an ingredient.

By the Food Standards Code any product below 0.5% alcohol is deemed to be non-alcoholic.

Kind Regards,
Poppy Stavrianos
Corporate Receptionist

I have a feeling they assume I'm Muslim because of my surname, I never asked them about it being Halal or not merely the Alcohol content.

Fadl

Well done!

If it is certified halal, we can eat it without question. But now that I know it is a candybar, I still wouldn't. That sugar and processed food will get you, and that's the truth.