St. Patrick's Day is the one day of the year when it's socially acceptable to walk around with teeth so green-tinted that you look like you've been hitting the aloe vera gel. And while St. Pat's Day beer is green a là The Incredible Hulk, it's also green a là composting and smart cars—at least much more so than some of the stuff that you could be drinking.
Like, for instance, milk. Opt for a glass of green suds instead of food-colored cow's milk with breakfast, and you'll simultaneously get the party started and save the planet. How does pre-gaming help the Earth? Animal agriculture is responsible for such a huge percentage of greenhouse-gas emissions that the United Nations concluded that a worldwide shift toward a vegan diet is necessary to combat climate change. The dairy industry also requires massive amounts of land, water, and energy for a comparatively small yield—a very inefficient use of natural resources.
And you can make your beer really green by opting for eco-friendly brewers such as Sierra Nevada or by choosing drafts over bottles and cans, which eliminates packaging waste. Ever been to a bar that offered milk on tap? Didn't think so.
If you're hosting the festivities, serving your guests some kelly-hued adult beverages in frosty PETA mugs printed with animal-friendly messages will keep beer cold and hearts warm.
Helping the planet just by drinking green beer? Someone pinch me.
PETA | PETA.org | Facebook | Twitter People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) is the largest animal rights organization in the world, with more than 3 million members and supporters. PETA focuses its attention on the four areas in which the largest numbers of animals suffer the most intensely for the longest periods of time: on factory farms, in the clothing trade, in laboratories, and in the entertainment industry.
Photo credit: PETA
