When it comes to wrecking public health care and undermining public education, Alberta’s United Conservative Party is prepared to act boldly in pursuit of its ideological goals.
But what about when it comes to something really important, like retail liquor sales?
Fuhgeddaboudit!
Yesterday, the UCP published a news release stating: “After a comprehensive review, the MLA Advisory Committee tasked with evaluating Alberta’s liquor retail model has recommended to the Minister of Service Alberta and Red Tape Reduction that the province should not move forward with allowing liquor sales in grocery and convenience stores.” (Emphasis added.)
The trio of canned quotes in the new release are rich in irony.
“The idea of expanding liquor sales to grocery and convenience stores has been mused about for years,” said Premier Danielle Smith, or at least the PR hack or hackette assigned the task of making up a quote that sounds as if she might have said it but contradicts the ideology she supposedly lives to advance.
“I’m grateful for the significant work done by MLAs to look into the feasibility and wisdom of such an expansion and the recommendations they’ve put forward,” she continued. “I am pleased to accept those recommendations and ensure Alberta continues to uphold our current model, which is one of the most open in Canada.”
The recommendation that matters, as noted, is to do nothing to let grocery stores or corner stores sell beer and wine, as in some other provinces.
In other words, idea of expanding liquor sales can be mused about for a few years more as far as Alberta’s premier is concerned.
“Alberta’s private liquor model is a jewel in the crown and allows small businesses to thrive while providing a wide variety of products and services,” said “Red Tape Reduction” Minister Dale Nally in his quote. “I accept the MLA committee’s recommendation to keep a level playing field and ensure the continued success of these businesses.”
Observation: He had no choice. If he’d dared to do anything else, a committee of rural MLAs would have torn him apart piece by piece over the donation revenue they would have lost from their ridings’ grubby, dingy, and poorly stocked liquor stores, which in many communities are the only places to buy hooch. Some jewel! Some crown!
The best quote, though, it is said here, was assigned to Scott Sinclair, the United Conservative Party MLA for Lesser Slave Lake and a member of the committee. “Expanding liquor sales to grocery and convenience stores may seem convenient for consumers, but it would have a detrimental effect on the retail liquor store industry.” Translation: &@%# consumers!
Now, to be clear, dear readers. I am not an advocate of making it too easy to buy booze. But the fact is, the system we’ve had in Alberta since the Ralph Klein Government privatized retail liquor sales in 1993 makes abuse easy and does little keep alcohol out of the hands of under-age drinkers or people who have already imbibed too much.
One thing that can be said in favour of the present system is that store hours are better. Another is that it does employ more people – although in marginal, often precarious jobs.
But yesterday’s announcement does raise an important question: If the market’s always so great, what’s wrong with the market?
In many places, it would be safer and more pleasant to be able to buy a six pack of brewskies at the grocery store, so why not let consumers do so?
Yesterday’s news release wraps up with some excuse making. Yes, as it says, selling booze in clean and pleasant locations would probably “significantly harm Alberta’s existing private liquor retail model.”
And, yes, “allowing sales of this nature would likely lead to widespread closures of independent liquor stores (and) job losses” – although most of those jobs would be quickly replaced elsewhere.
But if the rumours of 1993 had anything to them, not a few of the owners of those stores paid the Conservatives of the day up front for the privilege of getting a license, and UCP MLAs would be sure to be reminded of that.
The release also claims change would result in “a decrease in product variety and customer service.” This is harder to believe. The vast majority of the province’s approximately 1,600 liquor stores have pedestrian selection and lousy customer service.
In most parts of Alberta, a liquor store with a good wine selection is almost as hard to find as an Emergency Room that’s open at night.
Specialty shops with good service and selection would survive.
As for the claim the current system offers competitive pricing, this is only true in a sense. Remember, liquor store “privatization” in 1993 affected only the retail side of the business. The Alberta Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis Commission continues to this day to set the wholesale prices all retailers must pay.
And, as the commission’s website explains, “AGLC adds a markup to the liquor it sells to liquor licensees. AGLC collects the markup on behalf of the Government of Alberta. The markup goes to the General Revenue Fund….”
Yesterday’s news release did not make it clear if the few locations belonging to a chain of convenience stores that had a couple of tables and served hot dogs and chicken wings would continue to be able to sell and serve booze – an innovation announced by Mr. Nally with great fanfare in 2023, supposedly as a way to cut red tape.
In February that year, the minister and a pal identified only as Larry showed up in an Edmonton 7-Eleven quaffing daytime cans of Crispy Tall Bois Pilsner (you can’t make this stuff up) and bragging about how selling liquor in corner stores would stimulate economic growth, diversification and job creation.
If you doubt me, the video they made of the occasion can still be found on social media – for the moment, anyway.
In it, Mr. Nally boasted, “in Alberta, our attitude about government tape is simple. When we see it, we cut it!”
Except when we don’t.
Well if being conservative implies a resistance to change, then this fits. If it is about being free enterprise or libertarian – the fewer restrictions, the better, then it does not.
Our former supposedly libertarian Premier is full of contradictions, if indeed she really did think about this much at all. And if she did, her thoughts were probably more like better to not upset the cozy apple cart for private liquor store owners who paid a lot to set them up and many who likely not coincidentally also generously give to Alberta’s conservative parties. To give our Premier some credit, sometimes she does not say the quiet, convoluted part out loud.
So it looks like we are stuck with the model from the 1990s, for better or worse while perhaps the rest of the world moves on. Although in the early years many of those private stores were initially small locally owned businesses, now they are becoming bigger companies and chains. So perhaps it gets worse.
Ralph Klein had a big problem with alcohol. He made a major fool of himself, when he was under the influence of alcohol, such as throwing money at the homeless, at a shelter in Edmonton, while he was plastered. It is skeptical that he quit drinking, because others who knew him, said that he hadn’t. They saw him drunk after he made the proclamation that he quit drinking. It was also a very big mistake for Ralph Klein to privatize liquor stores. Communities in Alberta cities had concerns from liquor stores popping up like weeds, with the problems caused by alcohol.
Putting liquor in convenience stores was another foolish idea by the UCP. It’s the last thing we need. There are obvious problems with it. Drinking and driving is one. Homeless people, who can suffer from issues with addictions with alcohol, would be another problem. Liquor would be a sure target for shoplifting. Additionally, who would contend with the issues of drunkenness? The UCP wasted money on another study, and had to back away from this foolish idea, because the results were going to be obviously very bad. The UCP’s cutting of red tape can have disastrous consequences.
There are certain convenience stores in the inner city areas, such as in Edmonton, that are prohibited from selling mouthwash with alcohol in it, because of the risks of street people consuming it. One inner city convenience store wanted a license to sell alcoholic beverages, but were denied that, because they were in close proximity to an elementary school.
What’s with these phony Conservatives and their issues with alcohol? Ralph Klein, Gordon Campbell, the former premier of British Columbia, who went under the Liberal name, but was actually a Conservative, and was really a Reformer, and UCP MLA, Devin Dreeshen?
Anonymous Even dumber was the idea that under aged children could work in these liquor stores and no one was stopping them from selling to other underaged children. I had a 15 year old nephew selling liquor in one in Calgary and he knew how easy it would be to break the law. In fact when a relative questioned a clerk in one store after witnessing the sale to what she considered was a minor she said “ No one asks for identification in this store, it’s too embarrassing”. Pretty stupid comment. I know how upset police officers were when Klein privatized them and they were right drunk driving escalated afterwards.It was like Global News who gave a 15 year old and a 16 year old money to buy cigarettes . Out of five stores they went to only one questioned them and the rest were only interested in making a sale when they were questioned by Global.
Alan K. Spiller: Selling alcoholic beverages in convenience stores is the dumbest idea that there is. Who is going to monitor the major problems this will cause? You can bet it will happen. During the holidays, such as Christmas and New Year’s Eve, check stops are very frequent in Alberta, and police have said that Albertans aren’t getting the message to not drink and drive. Neighborhoods in cities in Alberta have raised legitimate concerns with more liquor stores showing up, and can you blame them? When Ralph Klein privatized liquor stores, it was a very foolish thing to do.
DS- on X Sept 30th
“Had a great time recently at Rival Trade Brewing with MLA Jason Nixon and the Rimbey Rocky Mountain House constituency association last week.
Always a pleasure to catch up & chat about the work we’re doing to keep Alberta strong and free.”
Hmmm, something, something about the independent brewers being forced to shut down because of competition??
It’s hard to keep up with the barrage of news. Life certainly seemed simpler with 3 news stations and 2 local papers (ah! nostalgia! lol)
Add in 3 provincial elections, an attempt for a federal one, and for those paying attention; a pivotal one next door; not taking into account the world crisis situation AND….Mother Nature- who keeps warning us, but as usual no one is paying attention.
So priorities are at the mercy of time constraints and just how much c’ap one has to wade through, to make some sense of all the nonsense.
Under different circumstances, I would say that “I’m sure it’s cocktail hour somewhere “, however ……sigh!
To my fellow commentors and our gracious host: I wish you all a safe and happy Thanksgiving Day!! Cheers!
( With a special red wine toast that will be lifted to Pogolski, from the Mundare bunch..lol)
Hypocrisy, a cornerstone of UCP policy.
I was actually really pleased when I saw yesterday’s announcement that the UCP (Undeterred Chemtrail Protectors) had backed down on this plan. When Ralph Klein privatized liquor stores stores back in 1993, it was done with a promise that liquor would not be sold in grocery and convenience stores, and a lot of small business entrepreneurs sunk their life savings into opening a liquor store based on that promise. Going back on that promise would put many of them out of business.
For once the UCP pulled the plug on one of their really bad ideas before it did any damage.
Alberta voters are a very special kind of sucker.
As a resident of PEI in the early eighties, I certainly appreciated the ambience and convenience of my neighbour’s back porch. Excellent selection of Schooner and Moosehead to keep the party going after midnight! Now the markup…..that’s another story.
Lefty: Ah yes, “the Island Way.” I come from that other Big Island, the one off the West Coast, but I remember learning about the Island Way on a P.E.I. holiday in the 80s. Despite P.E.I. Government propaganda about there being no licensed beer parlours on the Island at the time, there was a pub close to out B&B complete with shuffleboard, little tables with stretchy red towel covers, and draft beers brought by a waiter. The explanation, the B&B owner gently explained, was that there was no license, it operated under the rules of the Island Way. In other words, it was what we would have called in Toronto the same year a “booze can,” operating in plain sight, without so much as frosting on the window. On a visit to the Island a year ago, it was long gone, and there were normal pubs everywhere. So times change – especially when you build a long bridge. DJC
Like all faith-based constructs, the market is subject to the interpretation of the individual. We’re all free to worship in our own way.
Sho true! Interpratashunnally, if I lived in the Tame Rose providence —hic!— I’d be pisshed!
True, the UCP worship the “marketplace”, but apparently they have a very narrow definition of what kind of marketplace is acceptable. The definition being whatever suits them for the time being. Presently, the UCP are telling the people of Alberta that the ideal marketplace for selling alcohol are those squalid dumps they call liquor stores. Since Albertans have a childlike obedience to authority figures, they will accept this announcement as if it was a Papal Bull.
Drinking at 711 at 9 a.m. reminds me of this:
https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/golf/daly-drinking-dechambeau-golf-channel-33478668
And of course, certain liquor service starts at 6:30 a.m. during Stampede.
Having lived through the Klein era and being employed with the Government of Alberta at that time, I saw exactly what was going on here. The privatization was clearly aimed at union busting and getting these folks off the government payroll. At the time cashiers at Government Liquor stores were making way more than skilled trades people. So it was all about slashing good paying government jobs and replacing them with low paying non-union ones. The difference also was there were only a few large retailers that got in from the get go and capitalized on this. The difference in wages for staff was what went to the store owners.
While am not opposed to private liquor sales and more access, I do oppose the way the Conservatives went about this. Funny while here in Alberta they are not going for this idea, Doug Ford is charging full steam ahead in Ontario?
I am surprised the drinking and driving folks have not had much to say about having beer or wine at a 7-11 and then jumping in the car and driving away.
OA: To your last point, that’s interesting, isn’t it? Obviously, selling booze where you also gas up you car is a bad idea. DJC
@Annonymous
A business I know of had a liquor store open up next to it in Beverly. The City of Edmonton said no to it, too close to a school. Some mysterious ‘board’ in Beverly said no problem go ahead. The last thing Beverly needs.
Roger: It was probably this: https://edmontontribunals.ca/subdivision-and-development-appeal-board If legislation, including bylaws, is not written comprehensibly, business owners have grounds of appeal, first to a board like this and ultimately to the courts. For example: If the city wants to prevent liquor stores being located close to schools, the bylaw had better say so. Otherwise the liquor store proprietor can argue, with justice, that he is being treated unequally under the law as written. Everybody understands that the “Alberta Model” of liquor sales encourages the establishment of retail outlets that are unsightly, unclean, unsafe and poorly stoked, and are therefore a blight on their neighbourhood. This, of course, doesn’t mean that all liquor stores are so, but that many, perhaps a majority, are. They are frequently garbage businesses real doing social harm, just like the plethora of pot stores and cheque-cashing operations that also dot the urban landscape in Alberta. Progressive Conservative, NDP and UCP governments have all contributed to this. DJC
The reaction to this is interesting. I’ve certainly been in jurisdictions where booze is sold at the local convenience store/grocery store/Walmart. Other than Walmart (where booze was ridiculously cheap) I can’t say that I’ve ever wished that I could buy a beer at the local Macs store. That said I live in Edmonton, spoiled with choice and a liquor store within stone-throwing distance in any direction! I do acknowledge that the situation here is a lot different than in the boonies, where the liquor store in, say, Rimbey sells BOTH kinds of beer: Bud and Bud Light.
David, you completely ignored the TBA-Mormon connection, and their influence in this decision.
I agree. As well as the growing Mexican mennonite prescence in Southern AB.
The more I am forced to endure the UCP the more I wonder about their mental health! Our Lord Dani is a babbling book of nonsense in service to idiots! Can not they think? https://youtu.be/BXWvKDSwvls?t=5
I find it interesting that liquor stores in Edmonton can be refused licenses if they are too close to schools, but are often located next door to day care centres. Curious.
Along the same lines, one of my neighbors ran an unlicensed day home during the first summer of the pandemic. She spent her days drinking beer in her garage with the door open while her preschool charges roamed the streets. Only in Alberta. The rules for day homes have tightened up a bit since then, but I have to wonder if she had something to do with it. The day home was shut down after she drunk-dialled 911. If she hadn’t gotten herself into a pickle, maybe it would still be in operation today.
selling booze has always been profitable. those who are able to sell it don’t want to share the profits and if they have the ear of the government, their profit margins stay.
when neighbourhood pubs were first suggested they were sold to the public on the premise, it would reduce drinking and driving–didn’t believe it then and still don’t believe it. However in the past 40 yrs with younger generations, it is interesting to note, they get into vehicles and always put on their seat belts and don’t drink and drive as much as aging baby boomers.
If local corner stores sold beer and wine, the logical thinking would suggest people would not get in their cars while drunk for more booze. Unfortunatley that isn’t what happens. Once people are drunk or half in the tank, their decision making frequently not up to par.
In Alberta, my take on it is those who sell booze aren’t interested in having to “share” the business and Smith is keeping them happy.
So, CONs continued with their bizarre and really unhealthy obsession with alcohol. Grocery are not going to do alcohol sales, which is fine, considering where I live there’s a liquor on every block for half a kilometre. It’s like Subway’s out there. There’s so many places to get your spirits, one wonders if all this pandering to day drinkers is going to blow it in the long run? I mean the CONs killing off their own voters is something I can get behind, of course. But at some point, doesn’t the body count start to look embarrassing? Blame it on the chemtrails, I suppose.
It would appear that “red tape” only applies to ventures outside of the favour of the UCP.
Meanwhile, in Australia, the protagonist in the destruction of the Eastern Slopes and its supply of fresh water to southern Alberta has a grievance with the National Gallery of Australia :
https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2024/oct/04/gina-rinehart-national-gallery-of-australia-nga-portrait-vincent-namatjira-ntwnfb
Firstly, I think this discussion arises because our Toronto-centric national media have been spilling a lot of ink — well, bytes in place of ink — on the controversial decisions by the Doug Ford government in Ontario to (1) end the Beer Store’s monopoly on beer sales, to the tune of $225 million in penalties paid by the province to the consortium of multinational breweries that own that retail outlet, and (2) permit the sale of beer, wine and ready-to-drink cocktails in corner stores and convenience stores, and larger quantities in grocery stores.
https://www.thestar.com/news/ontario/more-than-4-000-ontario-corner-stores-approved-to-sell-alcohol-next-week/article_6b41affa-a8cc-5095-8971-18f7809bebb8.html
On grocery stores, here in Alberta, big chain grocery stores do indeed sell booze, but they have to be in a separate facility that can exclude minors. So, Loblaw has its “Real Canadian Liquor Store[s]” on the same sites as its Superstore or No Frills outlets, and Empire Foods has its own liquor stores on the sites of some of its Safeway and Sobey’s stores.
In fact, as a fan of craft beer, I find the best selection here in Grande Prairie to be at our north-end Safeway Liquor Store – which has the added advantage for me of being unionized, as are all Safeway stores in Alberta.
There is a Real Canadian Liquor Store at our west side No Frills and our north end Superstore. The south end Safeway does not have a liquor store, although there is an independent liquor store in the adjacent strip mall.
Costco and Wal-Mart — not true grocery stores in the sense that term is normally used, although both sell groceries — each have liquor stores co-located on their sites, with separate entrances. Co-Op has a liquor store in the south end, but it’s nowhere near either of their two grocery stores, which are in the downtown core and far north end. And many of our area Circle K and other convenience store chains also have liquor outlets.
The only real difference between current state and what is being discussed here, is that you can’t pick up your beer and your milk from the same or an adjacent fridge. Instead, you usually have to at least go across a parking lot to stock up on both. That’s not really a big deal.
Conclusion? You can agree or disagree with the private liquor store system Alberta has had since the mid-1990s, but the discussion here is completely dissimilar to what’s going on in Ontario — been there, done that, in fact. They’re now going where King Ralph went 30-odd years ago.
I think Dave is spot on: Danielle isn’t a libertarian as she claims. Her politics are about pandering to her bases lowest values. A pandertarian. She so desperately wants to be seen as useful and competent.
Chem traileurs? Hold my beer! https://youtu.be/kIgtA2jWmOU?t=23
It’s Not Red Tape, It’ Yellow Tape, Silly!
Hi David. Most comments here on this subject offer insightful opinions on the UCP ideology and the outcomes of liquor privatization. Growth of the industry, more consumer selection, job creation, money, money, money, profits, profits profits! Unfortunately, Dale Nalley and his Red Tape Gang really don’t want to disclose the full truth of the matter. Over time, again and again, the UCP policies on just about everything, fails. They actually run out of red tape! ( No, it’s not a supply chain issue).
Failed policy in socioeconomic issues, housing availability, health care, education and social supports, mental health and addiction management has lead to an epidemic in…….CRIME!
So now, the red tape has dwindled and the yellow tape (police tape) has become more common. I was informed a few weeks ago from a 7Eleven store manager, that the Company was planning the closure of 8 stores in Edmonton Zone, due to losing $10K/ month/ store due to crime. Mac stores/ Circle K are under the similar pressures. This trend is also impacting grocery chains. References:
https://winnipeg.ctvnews.ca/10-winnipeg-7-elevens-facing-closure-due-to-crime-1.7000159
https://globalnews.ca/news/10686323/edmonton-convenience-store-trafficking/
https://www.the-sun.com/news/12207054/convenience-chain-permanent-closures-lost-325k-crime/
https://www.cnn.com/2023/05/12/business/stores-closing-cities-downtown-retail/index.html
I assume that you, DJC, will be attending Saturday’s doubleheader with the Nenshi love-in (in person or via tech) followed by the real deal with key party & MLAs gathered to discuss what’s what. I know we all look forward to your thoughts.
Lefty: I’m afraid I had to miss it. Life, sometimes, complicates art. There will be opportunities to commentate, of course. DJC
A certain high-up UCP MLA owns a liquor store in a community that thrives on that kind of thing…