With city staff and most councillors deeming a pilot project to serve alcohol at CN Centre a success, council approved a new policy Monday night to open up the sale of liquor at other civic venues.
The new policy means alcoholic beverages will continued to be sold at certain CN Centre events and opens the door to have Kin 1 receive a permit to sell alcohol as well.
Community services director Colleen Van Mook said during the one-year pilot project there was no increase in the number of alcohol-related incidents at Prince George Cougars games and a decrease in the number of incidents at concerts. She also cited a survey that showed about four fifths of the 121 residents who responded indicated that they are either in favour or neutral towards the city's new policy.
"I think it's evident that [the policy] is working and that it has worked," Coun. Lyn Hall said.
While city staff found most of the feedback to the policy was positive, not everyone around the council table agreed that serving alcohol in more city properties is a good thing.
Both Coun. Albert Koehler and Coun. Garth Frizzell voted against the plan, which passed with a 7-2 vote.
Koehler provided an anecdote to council on Monday night about how there was no one around to enforce the rules when a drunk couple caused a disturbance at a Prince George Cougars game he attended.
"It's a slippery slope," he said of the new alcohol policy. "And in the end it's all about money."
He also expressed concerns that serving alcohol at places where children are present can set a bad example.
At the end of the day, city staff were able to provide enough councillors with assurances that there will be enough enforcement in place to ensure if people do end up drinking to excess, they can be dealt with appropriately.
"We don't expect citizens to put themselves in harm's way to enforce it," Mayor Shari Green said.
Frizzell said his objections to the plan revolve around public health and the dangers associated with the abuse of alcohol. He said he took a "cold, hard look at the facts" and determined he couldn't support the city selling more booze on its premises.
"I base that on not what's good for Garth or what's good for adults or those types of considerations," he said. "I've talked with experts about what alcoholism looks like in northern B.C. and what binge drinking is and what would be a responsible choice for the municipality, so that's how I made my choices."
Frizzell also opposed the pilot project when it was first introduced.
"Buddies of mine have razzed me about taking that stance when I enjoy a beer myself , but it's not about my views towards my alcohol consumption, it's about the responsibility that council bears for the facilities that we're opening up."
Frizzell expressed concerns that the policy's rigid structure could cause problems if it's implemented. He cited the hypothetical situation of the soft drink delivery truck not arriving in time for a major concert, which would violate the policy's condition that alternatives to alcoholic beverages be offered for sale.
"So is it reasonable to say if someone has a massive concert here - if Elton John comes back - but the Pepsi truck doesn't arrive, are you going to cancel the concert?" he said.
