I'm home - again! A new one this time. Still getting settled in, and there's lots and lots of boxes to unpack. But a home never feels like a home until the internet is up - which it is now! So, I'm home!
Also, did you know, that in Canada, you can't buy liquor anywhere except at a special, government operated and regulated store called the LCBO? Think about those times you went to safeway and got a bottle of wine with your pasta. Nope. Want some margs to go with those tacos? Nope. Can't buy them in any stores anywhere, except these special ones.
All right, it's not that bad. You can buy liquor at restaurants and bars of course. And you can occasionally get wine in other places, such as, in the store, but in front of the cashier place and only if it's a home vineyard... of some sort. Meaning you can only cork a certain amount of bottles before it has to be.. regulated.. or something, ok I don't quite get it yet. And, apparently there are "Beer" stores, but you can only get beer there and nothing else.
Why? Does it lower public drunkenness? Does it create a better, cleaner, more sober society? Or is it something more underhanded such as being able to regulate and tax and keep track of all alcohol purchasing and consumption in the country -- to mine user-data to sell to third world countries??? The world may never know.
Or maybe google does, but I'm too lazy.
Comments (2)
Why are alcohol sales regulated? It's a consequence of Prohibition (where alcohol was illegal, in the U.S., from 1920 to 1933). To repeal Prohibition, the compromise between drinkers and the Temperence movement folks (who were responsible for Prohibition in the first place) was that alcohol sales were only going to be legal again if they were greatly restricted -- such as by only be sold by state-controlled stores -- and that created the rules that are still in place in some U.S. states as well as parts of Canada. In the last 74 years, most U.S. states have removed some or most of the restrictions, and that's why in progressive California you remember being able to buy beer and wine at Safeway (but, bars still have to close at 2am). Check out:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Temperance_movement
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prohibition_in_the_United_States
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alcohol_laws_of_the_United_States_by_state
(note Utah especially)
Time moves slower in some states and some parts of Canada, so the rules are hanging on.
Posted by Stephen | May 4, 2007 3:25 PM
Posted on May 4, 2007 15:25
Oh, and here's the rule for Ontario (from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liquor_store#Canada):
"Predominantly foreign-owned and operated Brewers Retail Inc. (operating as The Beer Store) is the only privately owned entity that can sell beer. Only the provincially-owned Liquor Control Board of Ontario (LCBO) may sell hard liquor or wine, though it also sells beer, particularly in small markets that Brewers Retail does not serve. There are also a limited number of privately owned specialty wine stores that are run by Vincor International and Andres Wines. Breweries and wineries are also permitted to sell their own products on the site that the products were made."
Posted by Stephen | May 4, 2007 3:28 PM
Posted on May 4, 2007 15:28