Booze in convenience stores proposed for Sask. cities

Klukas clarified that the association is asking for an evolution, not a revolution of liquor laws. He said the group still supports maintaining government revenue with the Saskatchewan Liquor and Gaming Authority continuing to act as the wholesale distributer for beer and wine. He said they simply want to offer better choice and convenience for customers.

Talking to shoppers on 13th Avenue in Regina there is a mix of support and skepticism about having the option to buy wine and beer in a corner store.

“I think that’s a good idea,” said Penny, stopping for groceries at Safeway. “I mean, why not? You can buy everything else at convenience stores.”

She said she is confident that store clerks would follow rules and check IDs regularly.

Coming out of Brandee’s Convenience Store across the street, Ken was cautious about the idea.

“Yes, you could, that would be a good idea,” he commented, noting that the sale of hard liquor should continue to be restricted.

Ken added that in his experience, the price of a bottle of rye in private stores in Calgary is higher than it is in Saskatchewan.

Lorn was not impressed with the idea at all, and said it sounds too much like privatization.

“I tend to favour the government liquor stores. That way the taxpayers save some money,” he said.

He said it’s not so bad to have liquor sold in small town convenience stores when they have no other options, but in the city he said booze should only be sold in public SLGA stores.

“I don’t think it would be a good idea because it would lose a lot of money for the government, and if they lose money they would have to cut services and raise taxes for the rest of us,” Lorn argued.

Johanna just moved to Saskatchewan from Alberta, and she said she would absolutely support the proposal.

“Really it’s not a big deal anyway. People drink. This is a common thing and if I can get wine at a convenience store, well then yeah for me,” she said with a laugh.

“Why not give some local business people the opportunity to up their sales?”

Keith sayid he does not support privatization of liquor stores, but he said the idea of buying a bottle of wine or case of beer from a corner store sounds OK.

“It’s not a bad idea,” he said. “I mean it’s big in Quebec and big in other places, so it shouldn’t be a big deal here.”

But Keith said the proposal only sounds good as long as it doesn’t hurt jobs or revenue at the public liquor board stores.

“If you’re going to go buy liquor at Mac’s or any other corner stores, it’s probably going to be more expensive, but it might be convenient for those people who want it,” he said.

Krystal agreed that buying beer and wine at a convenience store would be more convenient, but said that’s not necessarily a good thing.

“I think it probably may cause more problems because it’s more convenient,” she said.

Cindy also questioned why anyone would need that much convenience to buy booze.

“I don’t think I’d be in favour of it. I think it’s better to have a liquor store that’s meant to just sell liquor,” she said.

Cindy added that selling alcohol in a city convenience store is not the same as selling it in a small town store where there are no other options.

“I don’t know if we need more, I guess that’s my point. We have enough places to get it,” she said.

The government closed the open consultation process on liquor laws at the end of January. Now it will review those recommendations and make a decision on any possible future policy changes for liquor sales in Saskatchewan.

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by Adriana Christianson

Booze in convenience stores proposed for Sask. cities

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