WTF?!?!

From the SF Chronicle:

Dozens of California wineries are now among the hundreds of businesses that have been hit with what many are calling "predatory" lawsuits relating to lead in stemware.

The lawsuits are based on the California's Safe Drinking Water and Toxic Enforcement Act of 1986, also known as Proposition 65. Businesses that fail to provide proper warning signs about chemicals in glassware, including lead and cadmium, can be liable for penalties of up to $2,500 per violation per day, which when calculated based on the number of individual sales can be significant.

Under the law, a party may file notice of an alleged violation and the state attorney general has 60 days to determine whether to take the case. If the attorney general does not take the case, the private party has a right to file a civil suit. Typically, the plaintiff's attorney offers the defendant the opportunity to "settle."

The situation is reminiscent of American Disability Act lawsuits that have targeted wineries over providing parking spaces for the disabled and wheelchair access to tasting rooms and restrooms.

Note to winery visitors:

You may be presented with a stylish, long-stemmed, over-sized chunk of glass with which to sample the 'fruits' of your host's labor. DO NOT SWALLOW IT! - the glass that is. I've got my opinions about the wine they put in it, but you're on your own there.

I love how to presence of lead in the tasting glass is cause for concern but process by which you would have to ingest it is given short shrift.