The lobbying campaign on behalf of apple cider has begun, but lawmakers should deliberate carefully before according one beverage the title of "official state drink."

In 2006, Harrisville students successfully campaigned to have the pumpkin designated as the official state fruit. The last legislative session quickly acceded to a request to make the Chinook the official state dog. Those choices were easy. Pumpkins are believed to be indigenous to North America, and they were long grown by Native Americans. And the Chinook, a sled dog breed that went to the South Pole with Admiral Byrd, was developed in New Hampshire. But the apple, a member of the rose family, is a British transplant planted by the Pilgrims.

The fruit's foreign origin shouldn't knock apple cider out of the running. New Hampshire wouldn't be New Hampshire without apples and apple orchards. But due diligence would require considering at least several other beverages for the honor. What about switchel, a concoction of vinegar, water and ginger that traditionally served as a thirst quencher for farmers in haying season? And then there's milk. Plenty of states have already designated milk as their official drink, but dairy farms are in trouble and could use the boost.

Though no state appears to have already claimed apple cider, several have made more memorable choices. Alabama, for instance, named Conecuh Ridge whiskey its official state spirit, Maine has Moxie and Nebraska, for some reason, has two official beverages, milk and Kool Aid. Should New Hampshire play it safe with apple cider or go for something more memorable? At least one state, Indiana, has staked a claim to water, but no state has chosen either lemonade or beer of either the root or the malt variety. The decision is a weighty one. Lawmakers should act, but not before conducting a thorough investigation.