Austrian authorities halt investigation into alcohol labels with images of Hitler

The Austrian authorities have halted their investigation into a retailer who was selling hard alcohol and wine in bottles with labels that featured portraits of historical figures, including Nazi leader Adolf Hitler. The state prosecutor said it is unable to prove the retailer’s actions were undertaken with the intention of promoting Nazism.

The Austrian Press Agency reports that last year, retailer Roland M. offered “nostalgic bottles of great historical figures” for sale. The investigation was initiated last year as well over complaints about the web page through which the retailer advertised using a depiction of a bottle featuring Hitler and the Nazi swastika. The state prosecutor said the man stopped selling the controversially labeled bottles after the investigation began.

The Austrian Green Party criticized the decision to halt the investigation today. The opposition party says there is a great deal of evidence showing the retailer was very well aware of the Nazi context of his actions. He is alleged to have openly used a flag with the Nazi swastika and to have been connected to a right-wing extremist blog.