Liquor sales in Ontario up for review

[antirealist]

Although the average Alberta liquor store today has a piss-poor selection of all products, the fact is that in Alberta there are currently over 10,000 different SKU's available. ... What happened in Alberta is that selection was dumbed down in your average store because the private operator could not afford to carry slow moving, esoteric products. What did develop are specialty stores for wines and spirits and, to some degree, beer.

It's very likely that most of the additional SKU's are on sale in Calgary and Edmonton, but the stores in smaller and rural communities just sell whatever there's a market for locally. I'm sensitive to this issue, because I spend half of each month in a small Newfoundland community, and half in downtown Toronto. The NF liquor store carries a much wider selection of products - mainly wine, to be honest - than is justified by the local market.

I think privatization might be good for beer fans in Toronto, but good luck finding a bottle of Anchor Liberty in Mattice without the LCBO. Some mix of private and public would probably be the optimal arrangement for all Ontarians.

[esprit]

You'd better get up to Mattice quick as, according to the LCBO website, there is only 1 bottle of Anchor Liberty in stock as of January 15th.

[screw2000]

What happened in Alberta is that selection was dumbed down in your average store because the private operator could not afford to carry slow moving, esoteric products. What did develop are specialty stores for wines and spirits and, to some degree, beer.

Correct.

There's a reason you always hear about Willow Park as the 'example' store in every newspaper article about privatization -- it's one of the big success stories.

Loblaws runs a chain of liquor stores out there ('Real Canadian Liquorstore', across the parking lot from their 'Superstore' supermarkets -- that's as close as you'll get to one-stop shopping). As you would expect, it's competes on price, not selection.

Funny aside: After tax and deposit, a 6-pack of Steam Whistle is about $1.50 cheaper in Calgary. That just felt plain weird to me.

[JerCraigs]

Funny aside: After tax and deposit, a 6-pack of Steam Whistle is about $1.50 cheaper in Calgary. That just felt plain weird to me.

Sleemans goes for $6.99 at Premier Gourmet. A lot of the price of alcohol in Ontario is taxes, and they aren't going to lower the taxes if they privatize!

[Philip1]

for the most part, prices of imported wines and specialty beers in Ontario would be the envy of anyone living in a free enterprise state in the U.S..

Someone brought me back a six pack of Sierra Nevada Pale Ale from either North Carolina or Virginia and the receipt with it said $6.99 - I'm assuming there was 4 or 5% tax added on. That works out to about $8.90 CDN, tax included, or $2 to $3 cheaper than a six pack at the Beer Store. I believe the Saranac six packs I received were only $4.99, or $6.40 CDN. Saranac beers are better than most Canadian micros I've tried, so I'm not talking cheap piss from a can here. Perhaps in the northern high tax states like New York there isn't much of a difference with Ontario but based on this experience beer seems cheaper in some parts of the US.

[JerCraigs]

for the most part, prices of imported wines and specialty beers in Ontario would be the envy of anyone living in a free enterprise state in the U.S..

Someone brought me back a six pack of Sierra Nevada Pale Ale from either North Carolina or Virginia and the receipt with it said $6.99 - I'm assuming there was 4 or 5% tax added on.... but based on this experience beer seems cheaper in some parts of the US.

Most of the tax on Canadian beer is added before it gets to the store in the form of excise taxes that the brewer pays directly to the government. I forget the exact stat but Canada is one of the most heavily taxed countries when it comes to alcohol. Someone told me we are 3rd in the world but I am not sure.

[northyorksammy]

Alberta: You really see the difference in price in high end booze. Single malt scotches at less than half the Ontario price.

[pootz]

Alberta: You really see the difference in price in high end booze. Single malt scotches at less than half the Ontario price.

Same for good imported brandy and wines Sammy...but no, really, ya got it better here as a government consumer..or consumer of government or whatever the integrated producer/retail/regulatory morass is here....even the sun shines out of Gummint's sphincter in Ontario. Maybe they'll start taxing the days they let sun out to grow them grapes and barley.

[Belgian]

for the most part, prices of imported wines and specialty beers in Ontario would be the envy of anyone living in a free enterprise state in the U.S..

Most of the tax on Canadian beer is added before it gets to the store in the form of excise taxes that the brewer pays directly to the government. I forget the exact stat but Canada is one of the most heavily taxed countries when it comes to alcohol. Someone told me we are 3rd in the world but I am not sure.

I did find the Niagara wine prices stupidly high, Peter. For all the inferior product used to prise taxes from the uninformed... we have some well priced options in our happy little "minefield of disaster wines."

JerCraigs, I believe Norway is the highest taxed country for alcohol, as well as a world leader in being really boring (Iceland too? World champ in suicide.). Are we modeling frigid Scandanavian countries you think? Imagine being overtaxed on booze BECAUSE you NEED it for your sanity. That's VERY Canadian thinking, by the way... "let's mugwump any possible culture to death while severely taxing the population to create a financial standstill, cycling most revenue thru the Guv - and preventing both the spending and jobs that will elevate Canadian standards of living..."

Why? Income figures are pure illusion. It's slavery. The super-wealthy are the sole benefactors of the system - the government plays their tune, giving them breaks, while offering the ripped-off masses NO dollar-by-dollar account of how they are spending (or losing) our taxes. But... I've said enough wacky, possibly misanthropic things for now, so let's just keep right on chasing those rainbows of success.

I don't hate this country, it's just very taxing to live here. You almost need a streak of the 'criminal' in you to get a leg up on things (look who's at the top), so I (almost) can't blame people when they take certain 'liberties' in business. Martha Stewart may be kind of an a$$hole for her insider trading, but the system of wealth created her attitude - and the fear/greed that drives people to take 'shortcuts.' A lot of people would be criminals if they were caught. Shite, I just coined a phrase!

[pootz]

I don't hate this country, it's just very taxing to live here. You almost need a streak of the 'criminal' in you to get a leg up on things (look who's at the top),

Well stated...can I quote you? This is sparkling with crystal clarity.

Agreed... you are forced to engage in a little government sanctioned (greased palm) larceny to get a leg up on the barrier between middle class and true wealth in this country....and Indeed...look who leads us....PMs with business interests that put them in perennial conflict of interest...the latest has a Canadian shipping line that flies another nation's flag to avoid Canadian taxes....nuff said.

Why? Income figures are pure illusion. It's slavery. The super-wealthy are the sole benefactors of the system

Sure it does. It benefits the patronage business cabal of its governmental connected elites. Now don't get me wrong here....I like free enterprise...I like free markets and I have nothing against profit motive or "rich people" ...hell, I'd like to be one myself!

All I want is a level playing field and the government out of my way so I can exercise an equal chance to be rich as well by using my own skills and risk management. It's hard enough to get from the start to the finish line with some savings and wealth intact with all the private competition. I really don't need my government throwing in excessive tax and regualtory road blocks and unfairly competing with my efforts when it isn't stealling the ground I've gained in capital gains tax.

Bottom line is government should pave public roads, deliver the mail run the hospitals....it should not be in business and in competition with free private enterprise.