A province-wide brainstorming session is underway, and the topic is liquor.
The provincial government announced Wednesday that the whole system of regulating booze is going under the microscope, due to generations of laws and protocols stacked on top of each other that may no longer have a place in the modern world.
Prince George's Pacific Western Brewery has already succeeded in changing some laws attached to adult beverages when, this past spring, they convinced the government to adopt a graduated tax system on the manufacturing of beer instead of retroactive thresholds. It was a move to allow up-and-coming brewers a chance to grow without penalizing the taxpayer.
Now the conversation will turn to every item on the booze regulation books.
"As the owner of B.C.'s largest 'regional' brewery in Prince George, I wholeheartedly support this initiative and I plan to contribute positively," said PWB's owner and CEO Kazuko Komatsu.
The government consultations will unfold between now and November in two phases, first with industry stakeholders and then with the public. Taxation will be one topic, but so too will be issues like should the legal drinking age be lowered to 18, maintained at 19, or raised as high as 21? Should children be allowed to accompany adults into a pub for meals during daytime hours? Should grocery stores and convenience stores be permitted to sell some kinds of adult beverages? Can officious regulations be subtracted from liquor-vending food establishments to allow more customer enjoyment? Should some regulations become tighter to protect the public?
"The goal is to find practical, responsible solutions that improve consumer convenience and grow B.C.'s economy, all while ensuring public safety," said John Yap, the Parliamentary Secretary for Liquor Policy Reform. "I know many British Columbians have a lot of opinions and
our government is open to hearing them as we move forward in this process."
"I applaud this approach," said Komatsu. "I will bring common sense taxation proposals to the table that will allow our proud BC-owned brewery to grow, create new jobs in Prince George and around BC and contribute additional liquor taxation revenue to government."
The thousands of commercial and industrial stakeholders of the province (vendors, restaurateurs, local governments, First Nations, law enforcement, healthcare interests, etc.) get their turn at direct comments first, then in September the general public will be asked for input. It will all be stirred into a final report due to the Attorney General and Minister of Justice by Nov. 25.
