BATON ROUGE, La. – A proposal to honor the New Orleans cocktail known as the Sazerac has gone down the drain.

The Louisiana Senate on Tuesday rejected legislation that would have made the whiskey-based beverage the official state cocktail.

The bill’s author, Sen. Ed Murray, a New Orleans Democrat, noted that the drink was created in his hometown and has become world famous. But Sen. Buddy Shaw and others said it was inappropriate to honor an alcoholic beverage.

“Is there a possibility that we could be encouraging folks, who were not intending to drink, that it would be acceptable, and they could become an alcoholic?” Shaw asked.

“No,” Murray replied.

Three other senators who spoke in opposition said the passing the bill would “send the wrong message” about the state.

The legislation failed by a vote of 27-8. Five of its supporters represent the New Orleans area. A Sazerac contains whiskey, sugar, bitters and absinthe, or a substitute anise-flavored liquor.

Court rules in favor of irate, kebab-throwing customer

MUNICH, Germany – A German court has rejected an employee’s demand that an irate customer pay damages for throwing a half-eaten kebab at her.

The claim stems from an altercation in June in which a kebab customer unsuccessfully demanded his money back. He says he then tossed the food behind the counter.

The employee claims the customer called her a “stupid cow” and aimed the kebab at her. She says she narrowly avoided the flying kebab and wants at least $390 in damages.

The court in Munich said in a ruling made public Monday that the employee failed to prove her claim – and that it doesn’t matter anyway.

The ruling says she’s not entitled to damages because being targeted with a kebab does not constitute a “serious violation … of human dignity and honor.”