Sarah Berman
had a very interesting article in The Tyee last month on some of BC's more wacky liquor laws. I would encourage you all to read it, if only to get a taste of what happens when governments get in the habit of regulating our chemical input.
Alberta can be forgiven for its lack of wine country. But as visitors, British Columbians might be tempted to bring over a bottle or two from Canada's oldest wine region.
However, thanks to the Importation of Intoxicating Liquors Act, doing so is a federal offense. No liquor is allowed to cross provincial borders without express consent from each province's liquor board.
"It's not right that someone from the United States has an easier time shipping wine home," says Okanagan-Coquihalla MP Dan Albas, who has spearheaded a private members' bill to amend the 83-year-old law. Albas says the legislation hurts his constituents' family-run wineries and the region's tourism industry.
"I don't think they normally bother people like you and me," Campbell says of the limits on cross-provincial imbibing. Liquor boards in Alberta and Ontario have both issued statements that give allowance for personal use. "But it certainly doesn't encourage inter-provincial trade."
By the way: Dan Albas' private member's motion to amend the Importation of Intoxicating Liquors Act, Bill C-311, can be read
here, if you're interested. It's managed to get past first and second reading in the house, and is
currently sitting before the Standing Committee on Finance. Let's hope it gets past that stage and fixes such an arcane piece of legislation.
7 comments:
B.C.'s liquor laws are SO outdated,the Province's message is; "drink up and give us lots of tax money,but don't you DARE enjoy yourself".
Anyone here ever suffered in what B.C. charities are allowed to call a "beer garden", during any Summer event?
Usually,the "Beer Garden" is no garden,it's a hot sweaty tent with no windows,placed on the far side of the event's grounds,and if you dare to walk out the door with the beer in your hand, you'll be immediately ejected from the "Garden" and not allowed back in.
Last Dominion Day I was at a celebration in the North Shuswap,decided to go to the Beer Garden as it was HOT!
Entered the Beer Garden tent and damned near passed out from the heat,it must have been 50 degrees celsius!
I asked if I could take my beer outside to drink it in the shade, and the guys running the place damned near had heart failure. They said they'd lose their licence,and never get it back.
So,we sat in the Beer Garden for as short a time as possible,and guzzled the beer down as fast as possible,just to get the hell out of there! Really enjoyable!
They should rename them,"Dante's Beer Infernos", just for a little truth in advertising.
Canadian politicians and bureaucrats are still stuck on "Victorian" in many ways. They can't allow you to enjoy a legal drink,but they'll allow junkies to shoot up in plain sight
on East Hastings St. unopposed and unharassed.
B.C.'s liquor laws are SO outdated,the Province's message is; "drink up and give us lots of tax money,but don't you DARE enjoy yourself".
That sounds about right, yeah.
A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.
I suppose that the international reputation of Canadians as flaunting alcohol laws is deeply rooted in this type of over-regulation...
Hmm...that's possible.
This has been an issue for ages. Had a friend who lived in the Territories (NWT) many years ago, where liquor taxes were savage. Every time anyone drove out south, said person was besieged with requests for imported liquour. Friend drove back one year with much brew in trunk; got pulled over and asked 'the question'; said didn't drink, and was let go on his way. Needless to say, was much toasted when arrived at destination with cargo intact.
Have also known BC persons to visit Alberta friends and, while there, to stock up. Have also heard that the RCMP have been enforcing the non-importation laws at Radium, catching Alberta residents who have legally bought alcohol in their own province but who are visiting B C with same in car (especially those Albertans who have property in the Windermere and who are transporting booze there).
That being said, would appreciate a 'treaty' amongst provinces which allowed all of us to experience the best alcoholic beverages of the other provinces.
That being said, would appreciate a 'treaty' amongst provinces which allowed all of us to experience the best alcoholic beverages of the other provinces.
Exactly. That would be great.
I've smuggled booze with me back to BC from places like Ottawa and Alberta for friends, too. Some of it has more to do with suppliers: there are some liquors that can't be found in BC that can be found in Alberta, say. But if things were relaxed a little bit along the border, you'd think that would sort of fix itself. Which would be awesome.
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