Beer lovers of Wisconsin, USA rejoice! You're a step closer to getting a free half-can of beer.
Both chambers of the Wisconsin state legislature unanimously gave key approval last Tuesday to allow grocery and liquor stores to hand out beer samples up to 6 ounces (170 grams) to a person of legal drinking age.
"It's a good bill. It's a Wisconsin bill. It's a beer bill," said Republican Representative Scott Newcomer, one of the measure's sponsors.
Current state law allows wineries to offer up to 170g of free samples.
Senator Pat Kreitlow, a Democrat from Chippewa Falls, home of the Jacob Leinenkugel Brewing Company, is the bill's main sponsor in the Senate. He said the measure would help brewers market a wider variety of specialty brands and compete with wine makers.
Pete Marino, a spokesman for Miller Brewing Company, which has been pushing the bill, said brewers should have the same chance to get the public to taste their products as wine makers.
"It's a great opportunity for them (consumers) to try the beers and figure out if they want to spend their hard-earned money to take the beer home with them," Marino said.
Miller and Leinenkugel are subsidiaries of SABMiller PLC.
Mike Fassbender, owner of Fuzzy's liquor store in Sun Prairie, said he probably will stay away from samples. He might be held liable if he hands out samples and the consumer causes damage, he said.
Final passage of the bill is expected this week at the earliest. Governor Jim Doyle then would have to sign it into law.(AP)
美國威斯康辛州的啤酒愛好者，歡喜同慶！距你得到免費的半罐啤酒，又邁進了一步。
威斯康辛州議會的參眾兩院四月十七日一致通過決議，准許雜貨店與酒類專賣店提供最多六盎司（一百七十公克）的試飲啤酒給達到法定年齡的人。
這項法案的提倡者之一、共和黨州議員史考特．紐康默說︰「這項法案極佳，是威斯康辛的法案，是啤酒法案。」
1. unanimously adv.
一致地 (yi2 zhi4 di5)
例: After a spirited debate that hinted at a split, the committee surprisingly passed the proposal unanimously.
(歷經幾乎快撕破臉的激辯，委員會令人訝異地一致通過提案。)
2. bill n.
法案 (fa3 an4)
例: Before legislation is signed into a law, it is called a bill.
(法條尚未被簽署立法時，都稱為法案。)
3. sponsor n.
贊助者 (zan4 zhu4 zhe3)
例: The sponsor of the Lions baseball team is Uni-President.
(職棒統一獅隊的贊助商是統一企業。)
4. liable adj.
有責任的 (you3 ze2 ren4 de5)
例: If you don't put a "wet floor" sign up when you mop, you may be liable if someone falls.
(假如你拖地時沒有立塊「小心地板潮濕」的標示，若有人跌倒，你可能就得吃上官司。)
目前威斯康辛州已准許葡萄酒廠提供最多一百七十公克的免費試飲。
Chippewa Falls的民主黨參議員帕特．克瑞特羅，是這項法案在參議院的主要發起人。Chippewa Falls是Jacob Leinenkugel啤酒商的大本營。他說，這項法案有助於啤酒廠推出更多選擇的專屬品牌，與葡萄酒商一較高下。
遊說這項法案的美樂啤酒發言人彼特．馬利諾表示，啤酒商應該與葡萄酒商機會平等，讓大眾品嚐他們的產品。
馬利諾說︰「這對消費者來說是大好機會，可以試喝啤酒，想一想自己是否願意花辛苦錢把啤酒買回家。」
美樂與Leinenkugel都是SABMiller PLC的子公司。
Sun Prairie的Fuzzy's酒類專賣店老闆麥克．法斯賓德表示，他大概對試飲敬謝不敏。假如他提供試飲，而顧客卻鬧事，他可能要吃上法律責任。
這項法案的最後階段預計最快本週就會出爐。威斯康辛州長吉姆．道爾屆時必須簽屬這項法案。 （美聯社/翻譯︰賴美君）
figure out 理出頭緒
When you figure out something, you decide what you want to do or solve a puzzle. "I can't figure out how to win the game. Will you help me?" Phrases with the same meaning include work out, puzzle out and solve.
If you figure in something, you take it into account: "We figured in hotel and ticket costs, and the trip should be affordable." If you figure on something, you expect or depend on it: "We figure on leaving at 9am. Will you be ready?"
當你「figure out」某事，你決定了該怎麼做，或如何解決問題。例如︰「我想不出要怎麼贏得比賽。你可以幫我嗎？」類似的片語還有「work out」、「puzzle out」和「solve」。
假如你「figure in」某事，你將此事列入考量。例如︰「我們評估了旅館與票價，應該負擔得起這趟旅程」。假如你「figure on」某事，你預期或仰賴這件事。例如︰「我們預計在早上九點離開。你可以準備好嗎？」
OUT LOUD 對話練習
Gary: The liquor store down the street is handing out free beer samples!
Karen: Get out of here. How can that be legal?
Gary: The state legislature just passed a law for it.
Karen: The legislature never ceases to amaze me.
Gary: You're not the only one.
蓋瑞︰街上的那家販酒的商店正在發送免費試飲的啤酒！
凱倫︰怎麼可能！那樣合法嗎？
蓋瑞︰州議院剛剛才通過法案。
凱倫︰州議院總是讓我瞠目結舌。
蓋瑞︰不是只有你。
get out of here 別開玩笑了，怎麼可能
If you tell someone to get out of here, you are jokingly saying you don't believe what they are saying. "A-mei was sitting next to you at the restaurant? Get out of here!"
假如你對某人說「get out of here」，你揶揄地說自己不相信對方所說的。例如︰「阿妹在餐廳坐在你旁邊？怎麼可能！」
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