About Those Expanded Beer Sales

My good friend Dave in Winnipeg was reading my blog the other day about the expensive Doug Ford Follies regarding expanded beer and wine sales in Ontario. The experience of Manitobans in such endeavours proves instructive:

Have been following your blog and always find it informative and entertaining. The latest topic on the issue of allowing alcohol in grocery stores and convenience stores is something that could come back to bite ol'Dougie. In Manitoba there was experimentation in the past with allowing liquor sales in grocery stores. A few select Safeways and Sobeys currently are licensed to engage in limited liquor sales; this began back in the Filmon days. Old Gary also issued licenses to a few political contributors to open private wine stores. 

Our ex-provincial Conservative government under Pallister and subsequently Stephenson toyed with the same idea that Dougie wants to implement. Due to the current climate of mass shoplifting in Winnipeg the impetus for allowing booze sales in more grocery stores, convenience stores and gas stations was soon put to bed. 

It was pointed out to the now retired premiers that allowing liquor sales in such places would open them up to the large scale thefts that were plaguing the government liquor stores. To stop the mass thefts, often accompanied by violence, the Conservative government brought in security measures that not everybody agreed with but it eliminated the problem. 

To shop in a government liquor store in Manitoba you must first enter a small lobby at the entrance. The entrance from the street locks behind you and the entrance proper to the store is also closed and locked. When you present photo identification to an employee, seated in a booth protected by plexiglass, you are allowed access to the store. I recall that the liquor board of Ontario began implementing such measures in Northern Ontario last year but pulled it due to complaints. I have not heard anything about continuing liquor store thefts in the area but I'm sure it still goes on. Imaging putting liquor in any and all stores in Ontario; the thieves will have a field day.

Dave, from the keystone province

Of course, expect no wavering on this issue from Doug who, with the zeal typical of populists and demagogues, will brook no criticism, no matter how pointed and accurate. As people of his ilk are fond of saying, there is only one taxpayer; however, as has been reported, that taxpayer will be heavily subsidizing his quest for re-election, likely to the tune of $1 billion.

And that is something everyone should be concerned about.