Beer tax recinded!

[Dion]

Originally Posted by 4X4

Liquor Depot is the worst chain of liquor stores. They're always the most expensive. I loosely boycott them. That is, if I knopw there's another liquor store in the vicinity, I'll go there instead of LD. Buncha ball-washing bastids. (10 points to whoever gets that reference)

We have that store here in High River. I recently discovered what you are saying as beer is usually to $4 to $5 more expensive than anyone else

[mykalberta]

Hopefully he wont be premier much longer so his pledge probably means nothing.

[Traditional_Ale]

Holy crap! If Co-op "Classic Ale" (made by Big Rock, same as Trad) is already at $8.69 for a six, then this will drop the price to lower than Black Label! WOOT!!!!

[Dion]

Time to by another case of Big Rock Grasshopper Ale

[Cowboy89]

Originally Posted by Ozy_Flame

Not surprisingly, I've seen people smoking Peter Jackson's, John Players and Canadian Classics a lot more since the tax was imposed.

Not everyone is upset with it!

Oh, and as someone already said, I bet you less than half of all liquor stores actually lower their prices back to pre-tax levels.

Don't forget the 'Number 7's.' Also notice the number of people smoking their own 'self-rolled' smokes in order to save a few bucks a carton.

[Torture]

Originally Posted by Traditional_Ale

Holy crap! If Co-op "Classic Ale" (made by Big Rock, same as Trad) is already at $8.69 for a six, then this will drop the price to lower than Black Label! WOOT!!!!

...same as trad eh?

[Ozy_Flame]

Originally Posted by Cowboy89

Don't forget the 'Number 7's.' Also notice the number of people smoking their own 'self-rolled' smokes in order to save a few bucks a carton.

By comparison too, lets not forget that marijuana has also been made a little cheaper by this tax...

[calculoso]

Originally Posted by mykalberta

Hopefully he wont be premier much longer so his pledge probably means nothing.

You're hoping that taxes go up??

[Traditional_Ale]

Originally Posted by Torture

...same as trad eh?

Not completely identical, but close enough by the second one you don't notice anymore.

The bottles even have legitimate Big Rock caps on them.

Sorry, I know its kind of ghey to be so excited over beer, but given my love for Trad saving five bucks a six is nothing to sneeze at!

[JustAnotherGuy]

I would think this will help in the restaurants. The ex owns a restaurant and she said the liquor sales had really dropped because of the increase in price. I don't know the exact numbers but she will be very happy with this news. Every little bit will help in that industry right now.

[Zarathustra]

Originally Posted by JustAnotherGuy

I would think this will help in the restaurants. The ex owns a restaurant and she said the liquor sales had really dropped because of the increase in price. I don't know the exact numbers but she will be very happy with this news. Every little bit will help in that industry right now.

Does this have to do with the recent taxes, the minimum drink prices, or a combination of both?

[BlackArcher101]

Or it could just be the recession and people are cutting down on those "extras" during a meal like wine and beer.
I actually didn't notice a price increase at the restaurants I visit.

[4X4]

Originally Posted by BlackArcher101

Or it could just be the recession and people are cutting down on those "extras" during a meal like wine and beer.
I actually didn't notice a price increase at the restaurants I visit.

Um, correction!! Wine is not an 'extra' at dinner.

[BlackArcher101]

Originally Posted by 4X4

Um, correction!! Wine is not an 'extra' at dinner.

That's true, which is why I bring my own bottle to cut costs even more. I've had to give up the escargot more often though.

[bcb]

Considering that a $20 bottle of rum is really just 60% taxes, this province doesn't need more expensive booze.
I support this decision.

Having said that, I hope Ed's change of heart had to do with the fact that the tax was killing the industry NOT so we'll all be too drunk to notice when he cuts public service spending by $15%!

[First Lady]

Liquor stores will reduce their pricing as much as they need to, to remain competitive in the market.

This only rolls back the most recent increase, it does not eliminate liquor tax. (Otherwise it would be even cheaper )

It does not impact the minimum drink prices; except any portion due to the recent tax increase (now rolled back)

It does not roll back the tobacco tax.


Seem to be some mixed messages coming from government. Here are a couple of quotes from MLA's in recent days regarding the possibility of a sales tax.

Lloyd Snelgrove: "Over the coming months, we will be considering numerous options to reduce our spending and raise our revenues." (July 1, 2009 - Edmonton Sun)

Ted Morton: “It’s going to have to be both. The shortfall is so big that cuts alone can’t do it.” (July 7, 2009 – Calgary Herald)

Ron Liepert: “It has to be a combination of everything. What all of those things are going to be, that's what we have to decide.” (July 7, 2009 – Calgary Sun)

Ron Liepert: “It's become almost an Alberta mantra somehow that we're never going to have a provincial sales tax. I am going to be open to whatever is brought to the table. I'm not ruling anything out.” (July 7, 2009 – Calgary Sun)

Then Stelmach:

Ending speculation about possible tax hikes, Alberta Premier Ed Stelmach announced Tuesday the province is not increasing personal or corporate taxes to deal with Alberta's growing financial woes.

"As long as I'm premier of this province, there will be no tax increases .… No tax increases, period," Stelmach forcefully told reporters after a cabinet meeting in Calgary.

"So don't talk about them 'cause there won't be a sales tax and there won't be any tax increases, period. http://www.cbc.ca/canada/edmonton/st...r-alberta.html

This whole episode plays like good cop / bad cop. Get's his peons to float crazy tax balloons, then good 'ol Eddie comes in to set the record straight and save the day.

And just some additional food for thought......his leadership review is less than six months away.

[Thor]

Originally Posted by 4X4

Liquor Depot is the worst chain of liquor stores. They're always the most expensive. I loosely boycott them. That is, if I knopw there's another liquor store in the vicinity, I'll go there instead of LD. Buncha ball-washing bastids. (10 points to whoever gets that reference)

Its brutal how expensive they are compared to say Real Canadian liquor happy place.

[SebC]

Great Ed, how about fixing the royalty mess you created?

ECON 101: Increasing taxes does not always increase government revenue.

[CrusaderPi]

Originally Posted by SebC

Great Ed, how about fixing the royalty mess you created?

ECON 101: Increasing taxes does not always increase government revenue.

Wait, weren't people screaming for this because we were getting the short end compared to Alaska and Sask?

[JustAnotherGuy]

Originally Posted by Zarathustra

Does this have to do with the recent taxes, the minimum drink prices, or a combination of both?

In her restaurant's case it was the recent tax increase. Well, and the economy of course.