So the restaurants and bars are complaining about their so-called high cost of liquor. Well, cry me a river.
They get it for the same price as the person off the street, then dispense the same marked up four to six times what they paid for it.
Now I understand there is help to pay albeit some pretty measly wages, considering the one dollar less than minimum wage. There is also the licensing and regulation that goes with this, but as anyone can tell you, having a liquor license is like a license to print money.
Having been in the local transportation industry the last few years, I have yet to see any complainers stumbling out of the local bar scene. Everybody seems to have a good time no matter what they are charged for liquor. This sounds like a red herring - trying to get a better deal out of the government coffers. When all is considered, these establishments take no responsibility for the behaviour of those they allow to get intoxicated. If it was considered to have a two-drink maximum, these places would fold.
I have no complaint with the consumption of alcohol, I have an occasional drink myself. If they want to charge more for drinks, so be it.
Nobody is bending anybody's arm to frequent these establishments, so I guess the clientele is happy with the prices.
I'm not looking for more rules or regulations, just a little more common sense.
We complain about the price of fuels roughly $1.50/litre, drink a litre of alcohol will cost you $50/litre. If you're stupid enough to buy from a bootlegger, try $100/litre. So the bottom line is consumers are not complaining.
Don't use the consumers saying they are paying too much, when all the vendors are trying to do is increase their bottom. If you want more money, increase your prices, I'm sure the clients won't drink any less.
Even most upscale restaurants today would fold without a liquor license, so there has to be a fair chunk of change in it somewhere.
I'm not advocating the shutdown of the sale of liquor, just stating the obvious. I understand that the price of drinks is not set or controlled and that's good.
Competition and good service works, that includes serving liquor.
But then again, I may be wrong. Cheers!
George Getty
Prince George
