The headline screams crisis, but the story tells a different story:

Taste for Guinness wanes in changing Ireland

But in the story, we learn, the Irish are still drinking (uh, not quite shocking news there) but they’re diversifying their palette - trying other beers and ciders, and drinking more wine. Look, I like Guinness, it’s my drink of choice when it’s on tap, but the fact that the Irish are trying beers besides Guinness is not the death-knell for this iconic brand and national symbol.

I was also unsurprised by this comment:

“You might find your ladies drinking wine, but only the odd male — and then with food,” said Keith O’Brien, 25, barman at a pub near Dublin’s River Liffey.

That fits my experience in every country so far — women generally prefer wine, men generally prefer beer.

Marshall: I’ll take wine over beer almost every time, but if the choice is wine vs. Guiness, that’s another matter entirely. I’m glad to hear that the Ireland’s national beverage is still going strong. It’s the best drink in the world, bar none.