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by Marzia De Giuli MILAN, Italy, June 17 (Xinhua) -- People in Milan can now do their part to contribute to energy sustainability by choosing an aperitif with less environmental impact. Under a project named "Happy Hour Happy Planet," large access point booths have been installed recently in many bars in the northern Italian city to help nature lovers enjoy a more environmentally-friendly before-dinner drink during the "Happy Hour," a period of time a bar sells alcoholic drinks at half price. After inserting a token and choosing an aperitif cocktail, the customer in the booth can know the ingredients and kilometers travelled for transporting the necessary raw materials of the selected drink. The booths themselves and the tokens are made of recycled wood. One of the most energy-consuming cocktails, for example, is "Long Island," which is made from Cuban rum, British vodka and gin, French triple sec and Italian coca cola, involving a transport distance of nearly 14,000 km. The cocktail named "Wrong" is instead very sustainable, with about 500 km. "We are used to imposing environmental respect at school, but we should consider that a lesson becomes more effective if done on the spot where the cocktail is to be consumed," Valentina Auricchio, director of the Design Research Center of the European Institute of Design, which launched the project along with some other partners, told Xinhua. Helping customers select less energy-consuming drinks is only a starting point. The initiative also aims to make bars advocate an environmentally-friendly lifestyle by avoiding plastic dishes, reducing waste and recycling garbage as well as using low consumption lighting. "We are trying to extend this idea all over Milan and also to a national level. Most people just do not have the chance in their everyday life to reflect about their lifestyle, so they just need to be stimulated," Auricchio said. And there is no better opportunity than motivating and promoting a green lifestyle during the "Happy Hour," a time for people to meet and socialize both at weekends and on weekdays. In Milan, the "Happy Hour" originally lasted from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m., during which aperitif and before-dinner snacks were served at half price. But now, it has turned into a real fashion that can last till late evening. Moreover, the aperitif cocktails nowadays are often served along with warm and cold dishes such as pizzas and pasta, omelettes, fried vegetables, meat and salads. The habit of substituting a light dinner with a number of appetizers for the total price of 8-10 euros (11-14 U.S. dollars) has become so widespread that experts are worried about its impact on health. According to a recent research by the Italian Food Science Society, the healthy diet of one in four Italians is spoiled by the "Happy Hour." Therefore, another goal of the initiative is to encourage bars to use organic foods and help customers get acquainted with them. "At the beginning, customers are often suspicious about things they do not know, but then they become curious and like to try," said a barman, Patrick Oberti, at historical Magenta, one of the bars that follow the initiative. "It is all a matter of giving correct information to create awareness and help forge good habits," he said. The e-commerce company in China offers quality products such as Mobile Phone Protective Covers , China Lenovo Phone Case, and more. For more , please visit Apple iPad Leather Cases today!
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