A French-Georgian brewery in Tbilisi even recently produced one with a picture of French footballer Zinedine Zidane on the label.

The number of alcohol brands is now so huge one has to wonder how much booze the world can actually consume.

Currently, people in most countries can buy as many drinks as they like at bars - as long as they've got the money. But soon, waiters could be the ones who will tell them when to stop. Such a practice has been introduced in New Zealand.

The Associated Press reported that, inspired by the yellow and red cards flashed by football referees, some Kiwi bars are now using similar cards to curb excess drinking.

A yellow card is shown to an imbiber who might be heading towards trouble, while a red one removes him or her from the pub, said Bruce Robertson, Hospitality Association of New Zealand CEO.

In the dozen bars that use the cards in Auckland and Wellington, a yellow card means no alcohol is served to the potentially troublesome drinker for a specific period.

"If you give them the red card you're saying 'I'm sorry, you are too affected by alcohol for us to serve you anymore, or have you on the premises. I'm afraid you're going to have to go'," Robertson said.

Patrons who leave with "good grace" are entitled to return another time and present their red card for a free drink, he said.

Jason Deane, managing director of Trinity Group, which owns several bars using the system, said reaction had been very positive, lightening the mood in difficult situations.

Although a free drink is on offer to red card recipients, generally they are not being redeemed. People are too embarrassed and either keep the card as a souvenir or throw it away, Deane said.

The nation's Alcohol Advisory Council said it was keeping an interested watch on the system's progress. Chief executive Mike MacAvoy said bar staff, "say they hate serving people who are drunk, and dealing with obnoxious, loud or messy customers, so if this system works, we applaud it."

Bar operators face a 10,000 New Zealand dollar (Bt234,000) fine and suspension of their liquor licence for serving drunks.

Drinkers in Thailand might not like reading this. Maybe they'd enjoy the show of yellow and red cards as long as they are adopted on the inspiration of football games, but would certainly hate it if the Thai Health Promotion (Sor Sor Sor), which was so successful with its anti-drinking campaign during Buddhist Lent, was encouraged to follow suit.

achara_d@nationgroup.com