Service Alberta Minister Dale Nally is aiming to increase regulation on liquor in Alberta through putting size and pricing restrictions on alcohol bottles sold in liquor stores.
After learning that 4-liter bottles of vodka were being sold in an Edmonton liquor store, Minister Nally grew concerned, stating “I have a problem with all of it.”
Using newly proposed Bill 16, The Red Tape Reduction Statutes Amendment Act, Nally is eager to limit the size of alcohol bottles sold in stores and increase prices to be more responsible.
The 4-litre vodka being sold in Edmonton Super Value Liquor was priced at $49.95, with Nally calling the pricing reckless.
“We can all agree that when we see a four-liter plastic jug of vodka, that’s not very responsible,” he said on Monday to reporters.
“I don’t think that it is responsible pricing to price it like that,” Nally added.
While the vodka was sold within compliance of the current regulations, Nally stated that doesn’t make it appropriate.
He said, “What is not in compliance with this is the spirit of Albertans which is what we believe is responsible pricing.”
If passed, the act will amend existing legislations and regulations, one of them being the Gaming Liquor and Cannabis Act.
The government says this would “clarify the authority of (the minister) to make policy decisions related to alcohol, liquor and gaming sectors, when there is a direct impact on government revenues, including regulation-making authority regarding liquor prices that already exist for cannabis prices.”
“Infringing” on consumer and business owner’s rights
Benjamin Lin, the owner of Sommelier Select Liquor Store told The Counter Signal that the law over-regulates Albertans.
“The more they infringe on what we can buy and our rights as consumers to choose the products we want, they’re going to try to regulate as much as they can.”
“Why limit people’s ability to purchase big bottles rather than educate people on their alcoholic intake?” he said.
Lin is selling 3 and 6-liter bottles of alcohol in his store, which he said would save customers money who decide to buy in bulk.
“What’s the difference between buying 4 small bottles versus a big bottle?” Lin stated.
