When I go to the States, I love how convenient it is to buy beer and liquor at any convenience store, however I can see how carding laws and off-hours laws likely get ignored at many of them. It also seems like alcohol is often the loot that robbers and shop lifters go for, at least if I am to believe TV and the internet. I think designated liquor and beer stores are generally harder to rob.
Although Alberta is already different than most places in Canada because you have small mom and pop liquor stores already. Basically convenience stores that just sell liquor. If you had those kinds of stores peppered around Toronto or Vancouver, they would likely be regular robbery targets. The big mega stores offer extra security.
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"A pessimist thinks things can't get any worse. An optimist knows they can."
To be honest I'd be down for having a cooler behind counter - much like cigarettes, except visible. The clerk can get it for you. You don't go to 7/11 to have a bombastic shopping experience; you get your tall boy or six-pack for a quick run. This really wouldn't be much different from the Beer Store in Ontario (or even from a snack shop on a golf course either), and it would probably cut down on a lot of theft and general disorder too.
See the thing is, that's none of your concern as a consumer. To me, this is just a good example of government overreach. They could just make it legal for people to buy beer and let the stores decide where they want to keep them. It's just not a big deal to keep the beer in a refrigerator beside the milk or whatever. That's what's happening at peoples houses, and it seems to work out.
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It has a lot to do with the social reform movement and prohibition. It's been a hundred years but the footprint is still there with respect to how liquor laws operate.
Anglo Canada held onto its puritan roots for way too long. We still continue to do so, despite having very few actual puritans anywhere.
Canada has a history of being totally reluctant to change liquor laws, despite being well behind societal norms.
Saskatchewan still had men only drinking establishments in the 1970s:
To be honest I'd be down for having a cooler behind counter - much like cigarettes, except visible. The clerk can get it for you. You don't go to 7/11 to have a bombastic shopping experience; you get your tall boy or six-pack for a quick run. This really wouldn't be much different from the Beer Store in Ontario (or even from a snack shop on a golf course either), and it would probably cut down on a lot of theft and general disorder too.
The Ontario beer store near me is self serve. No longer do you tell some person what you want, they speak it into the microphone, some other person goes and gets it and fires it out on the wheel laden belt. It's a sad time.
See the thing is, that's none of your concern as a consumer. To me, this is just a good example of government overreach. They could just make it legal for people to buy beer and let the stores decide where they want to keep them. It's just not a big deal to keep the beer in a refrigerator beside the milk or whatever. That's what's happening at peoples houses, and it seems to work out.
Geezuz, the hubris in that first statement. I care as a consumer and a community member - I wan to see protocols in place so vices don't get in the wrong hands for various reasons.
And are people allowed to walk into your home and help themselves to your fridge? Not unless you invite them in on purpose. No one's house is a public access point to freely come pick up liquor. That's a terrible example. Well maybe your house has an open door policy, I don't know you.
In BC, all drinking establishments had to have separate entrances for men and women until 1964.
The social reform movement is a really interesting beast. I wouldn't say it is as puritan as it is social gospel Protestantism, which was very popular up until WWII. Womens Sufferage, social welfare, pro unionism grew out of the same movement as prohibition and less savory ideologies like eugenics. It was a very formative time.
The Ontario beer store near me is self serve. No longer do you tell some person what you want, they speak it into the microphone, some other person goes and gets it and fires it out on the wheel laden belt. It's a sad time.
That is actually quite the enjoyable experience. You can hear it coming and then it appears before you. Love the ones that still have that.
Also, all the grocery stores just have beer on the shelves in an aisle…
The Ontario beer store near me is self serve. No longer do you tell some person what you want, they speak it into the microphone, some other person goes and gets it and fires it out on the wheel laden belt. It's a sad time.
I was so confused by Beer Stores as an Albertan my first time in Ontario.
I also seem to recall they don't have many places to buy beer compared to hear.
I spent what seemed like 30 mins driving around Peterborough looking for a liquor store, can't do that here.
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Captain James P. DeCOSTE, CD, 18 Sep 1993
Ever since I moved to the EU, having a convenience store 30 meters away from me that I can stock up on beer and other beverages on the same shelf is a luxury I will never ever take for granted again.
Disappointing how backwards Canada is for something as basic as this. It's 2021 and something as dumb as having not alcohol to purchase in the same damn store you buy your food just beyond pathetic at this point.
I can't believe it's 2021, a year where we've now legalized weed and conversations around broader drug legalization and destigmatization are heating up... and some people are still Helen Lovejoying about where we can buy beer.
Jesus, grow up and be adults. Times are moving past you.
EDIT: lol, Hunting with basically the same take at the same time. Smart minds.
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I don't see this being very widespread, simply because the industry is not set up for the logistics of delivering to small vendors. Most of the large grocery chains have a separate liquor store attached or near their food stores already. A chain like 7-11 could attempt it, by ordering to a central location and then directing the product out via their own delivery.
Every small corner shop and strip mall liquor shop is essentially this. ALGC has trucks that go to every small location. Most alcohol distribution is completely done by only by two entities - ALGC and the other one that handles all the Molson/Macro brand stuff where you can warehouse pickup. Logistics is no issue.
I was so confused by Beer Stores as an Albertan my first time in Ontario.
I also seem to recall they don't have many places to buy beer compared to hear.
I spent what seemed like 30 mins driving around Peterborough looking for a liquor store, can't do that here.
It was brutal, but it’s come a long way (mostly thanks to small breweries). Still though, if it’s 8-9pm, you might be out of luck. Which is brutal for road trips, late nights, etc.
Last edited by Scroopy Noopers; 12-14-2021 at 03:00 PM.
In the USA you can buy liquor almost everywhere. In Quebec you can buy beer at convenience stores. It's not North America with the problem. It's specifically Canada, and anglo Canada with the issues.
Can't imagine where anglo's get this from, its not like us Brits over indulge
I can't believe it's 2021, a year where we've now legalized weed and conversations around broader drug legalization and destigmatization are heating up... and some people are still Helen Lovejoying about where we can buy beer.
Jesus, grow up and be adults. Times are moving past you.
EDIT: lol, Hunting with basically the same take at the same time. Smart minds.
The alcohol issue is kind of interesting, because it's also attracted a significant amount of attention from the left who cite the dangers of alcoholism and how it relates to issues like health, spousal abuse, sexual assault, and minority affluence.
It's all a bit of a red herring too. I don't see how allowing people to casually drink in a park is going to result in more assaults or more health issues.
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Geezuz, the hubris in that first statement. I care as a consumer and a community member - I wan to see protocols in place so vices don't get in the wrong hands for various reasons.
And are people allowed to walk into your home and help themselves to your fridge? Not unless you invite them in on purpose. No one's house is a public access point to freely come pick up liquor. That's a terrible example. Well maybe your house has an open door policy, I don't know you.
Lol, what hubris? The government should just allow these sales and leave it at that. They don’t need to provide guidelines on how stores should be allowed to sell or display products. It’s crazy that we have such a nanny-state that we don’t even think a store will be able to handle this most basic operation without government hand-holding.
Lol, what hubris? The government should just allow these sales and leave it at that. They don’t need to provide guidelines on how stores should be allowed to sell or display products. It’s crazy that we have such a nanny-state that we don’t even think a store will be able to handle this most basic operation without government hand-holding.
There is something to be said about limiting a corporations ability to advertise booze/cigarettes and make them look "cool". Children and young adults are especially influenced by these advertisements.
I'm sure we all remember being obsessed with Saturday morning cartoons, GI Joe, and Transformers, despite the fact these shows were 30 minute long toy ads.
Anyone down for having cigars/cigarettes on the grocery shelf available for purchase? I don't see a difference between nicotine consumption, alcohol consumption and processed chemicals. It would be easier for me to have my vices available next to my greasy potato chips, orange juice from concentrate, high-sodium salad dressings, and petroleum-product based gummie candy. Personal choice, honor system, etc. I need convenience and trust.
