The gondoliers of Venice are to face spot checks on their sobriety after a spate of accidents thought to have been caused by operators' plying the city's famous canals while under the influence

National Review, Jan 31, 2005

* The gondoliers of Venice are to face spot checks on their sobriety after a spate of accidents thought to have been caused by operators' plying the city's famous canals while under the influence. New regulations permit the city police to conduct breathalyzer tests on gondoliers suspected of oaring while intoxicated.

This is only the latest of a series of assaults on this ancient and noble profession, beginning six years ago with the introduction of police speed traps, then proceeding, last year, to a ban on gondoliers' forming up in fleets to perform choral serenades. What next for the poor men--an E.U. directive demanding seat belts?