Calgary businesses launch petition calling for open liquor on 17 Avenue

[MissTeeks]

Interesting:

https://globalnews.ca/news/3835023/c...-on-17-avenue/

A group of Calgary businesses impacted by the construction on 17 Avenue is asking for changes to the liquor laws to allow for pedestrians to carry open liquor containers on the busy street.

Troy Wolfe, the owner of Pet Planet, is one of several businesses to launch a petition calling for updated liquor laws – along with some other proposed changes that he says would create a more “vibrant corridor.”

The petition calls for open liquor to be permitted until 10 p.m., as long as it is in plastic to-go cups.

“People are naturally going to be drawn away because of the construction, but we want to bring them back with a unique experience,” Wolfe explained.

Wolfe said businesses don’t want permanent changes to the rules but that they hope relaxing the liquor laws during construction might bring more pedestrians to the area.

“Our goal is to create attraction throughout the construction period and use that time as an experiment to change the rules a little bit – see what works, see what doesn’t work,” Wolfe said. “Eventually, if people want it to stay, then why not?”

[Fire in the disco]

Treating people like adults, I like it!

[Locke]

I have made it no secret that I despise Canadian liquor laws, I think they're Draconian and counter-productive and I think this is absolutely brilliant.

Its sad that mature adults cant have a beer or glass of wine and sit in a park or walk down a street with it.

Dont even get me started on the idiotic concept of 'Beer Gardens' but I like this idea and I'd support it.

[Tacopuck]

Make it province wide

[calgarygeologist]

It would be awesome to see 17th Ave more of a pedestrian strip like 16th Street in Denver.

[DownhillGoat]

Originally Posted by tacopuck

make it province country wide

fyp.

[SportsJunky]

The owner of Pet Planet is one of the business owners behind this? People should not get tattoos or buy pets while drunk.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by SportsJunky

The owner of Pet Planet is one of the business owners behind this? People should not get tattoos or buy pets while drunk.

Of course not! Never! You either do neither or both!

"Oh Lord....why is there a dog here.....wait....why I do have a tattoo of this dog on my chest? Mistakes apparently, have been made....."

[YYC in LAX]

Rise up and rebel. Don't use violence.

[Northendzone]

it would be awesome to wander around with a cold one when it is -25 out....

[lazypucker]

So what's next? People allowed to smoke weed on the streets? Legal prostitution?

A serious question aside, can we legally smoke weed in public places like cigarettes after July 1 next year?

[Locke]

Originally Posted by Northendzone

it would be awesome to wander around with a cold one when it is -25 out....

My wife taught a bartender in San Francisco to make Blueberry Tea because it was warm and you could put it in a travel mug. Its on their menu now.

The beauty of this is that 17th Avenue is primarily a walking/recreation district so you dont have to worry too much about drinking and driving, but the fact of the matter remains the fundamental aspect of drinking:

If you force someone to remain in their same location and they cant go anywhere, they will drink more, likely to excess, if they're allowed to carry that drink and walk around then its much less likely.

So while a business might make a little less money selling drinks to that particular person or group, they're also creating fewer problems.

[GGG]

Then we can close 17th to cars every weekend in the summer and have a pedestrian first zone on every nice weekend. Let business expand patios and capacities.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by GGG

Then we can close 17th to cars every weekend in the summer and have a pedestrian first zone on every nice weekend. Let business expand patios and capacities.

Have you been down there recently? Its basically closed every day and a pedestrian-only road.

[Barnes]

Originally Posted by GGG

Then we can close 17th to cars every weekend in the summer and have a pedestrian first zone on every nice weekend. Let business expand patios and capacities.

But where would people drive their obnoxiously loud motorcycles?

[Tron_fdc]

Originally Posted by lazypucker

So what's next? People allowed to smoke weed on the streets? Legal prostitution?

A serious question aside, can we legally smoke weed in public places like cigarettes after July 1 next year?

I always assumed that if you had your weed card you could smoke it anywhere cigarettes could be smoked.

Is that incorrect?

[_Q_]

This needs to be a thing.

Also needs to happen on Stephen Avenue as well as Prince's Island Park

[iggy_oi]

Originally Posted by Locke

I have made it no secret that I despise Canadian liquor laws, I think they're Draconian and counter-productive and I think this is absolutely brilliant.

Its sad that mature adults cant have a beer or glass of wine and sit in a park or walk down a street with it.

Dont even get me started on the idiotic concept of 'Beer Gardens' but I like this idea and I'd support it.

I agree the laws need to be adjusted for sure, but keep in mind they are there for a reason.

I’m curious though as to why you label them as counter-productive. Unless of course you just mean they prevent you from getting from sober to drunk at the rate of speed you would prefer. Which is fair enough

[Barnes]

Originally Posted by Tron_fdc

I always assumed that if you had your weed card you could smoke it anywhere cigarettes could be smoked.

Is that incorrect?

That's not how it works anywhere else where it is legal so I am not sure why people expect to smoke wherever you want in AB.

[MoneyGuy]

Originally Posted by lazypucker

?...can we legally smoke weed in public places like cigarettes after July 1 next year?

I believe that the province is working on those details and the municipalities will have to adapt.

Few municipalities will be ready for July 1.