drink to me only with thine 'official beverage'

Care for an official Illinois drink?

"Gov. Rod Blagojevich's administration is considering selling, to a yet-unchosen beverage company, the rights to Illinois' name. No other state has ever done it. . . . The example most often cited by proponents is that of New York City, which signed an 'official beverage' agreement with Snapple last year worth $126 million over five years for the city. . . . Local expert Larry Briggs, an associate advertising professor at SIU, said such government-corporate agreements are profitable for taxpayers. However, 'it limits the choices [for consumers] ... [and] you're kind of selling out to the corporations,' Briggs said."

Maybe G-Rod could come out with a whole new brand of soft drink, while he's at it. A state that could better capitalize on that idea is Minnesota, if you hear what I'm saying, and the cities of Sarasota and Pensicola, Florida.

Could the City of Carbondale use its Home Rule authority to authorize an official beverage of the City of Carbondale? Cole's Cola? Our youthful Mayor, thirsty for fiscal success, has already come out with a brand of water, why not cola?