The Bar Towel

Another article in the Star today, this time with a plug for FreeOurBeer.org!

http://www.thestar.com/Business/article/457580

Bytowner wrote:Ontario Craft Brewers Retail Shop

Let Ontario Craft Brewers Open Their Own Retail Stores

Now that I think about it, these should probably all be consolidated.

This has been mentioned before, but apparently there's a NAFTA issue to the LCBO allowing an all-Ontario beer store. This is despite the fact that we have all-Ontario wine stores already. They'd also likely run into trouble from OPSEU. But I'm sure if the current administration were into change of any kind, they would have paid lip service to the concept by now.

Cass wrote:Another article in the Star today, this time with a plug for FreeOurBeer.org!

http://www.thestar.com/Business/article/457580

If you read this in the paper verison, it's split between the first page and an interior page of the Business section. And the interior part appears next to an article about McGuinty encouraging people to buy Ontario wines, and a pending private member's bill proposing the opening of independent VQA stores selling Ontario wines:

http://www.thestar.com/Business/article/457584

Nice double standard, eh?

shintriad wrote:This has been mentioned before, but apparently there's a NAFTA issue to the LCBO allowing an all-Ontario beer store. This is despite the fact that we have all-Ontario wine stores already.

The existing wine stores - which are actually owned by specific wineries, and which sell mainly lower quality wines that contain a large percentage of foreign grapes - are pre-NAFTA stores were grandfathered in.

That being said, the whole NAFTA threat is a bit of a red herring, as there are so many loopholes in NAFTA it's not even funny. And as noted in the Star article I link to above:

Bradley said his main concern was that stores restricted to selling only Ontario wines could be subjected to a challenge under the North American Free Trade Agreement, or NAFTA.

But some say the Liquor Control Board of Ontario is one of the world's largest buyers of California wine, and U.S. vintners may be reluctant to take on the booze monopoly.

Bottom line: If the gov't was serious about allowing VQA or OCB stores, it could be done.

I'm not sure who would even bring a complaint concerning NAFTA. US Craft brewers aren't exactly pounding at the gates and the macros already essentially have their own store (and they're simply saying that they would stop selling craft beers if the OCB dared set up its own shop). I think Greg has it right, that's the least of our worries.

I don't know about the rest of you but I'm feeling very excited after the last several days of media coverage both print & tv (CHCH in Hamilton covered the on-line petition story on their 11 o'clock news last night) in regards to bringign all this attention to both the OCB and The Beer Store.

Perhaps we are entering a new phase of development for Beer in this province and let's hope it continues to elevate to new heights.

Cheers
Jay

We can hope jaymack. Unfortunately, some of the comments on thestar give you a peek into the widespread ignorance we're actually dealing with.

Bytowner wrote:We can hope jaymack. Unfortunately, some of the comments on thestar give you a peek into the widespread ignorance we're actually dealing with.

True, there were lots of uninformed opinions and ignorance in those comments. However, the beautiful thing about petitions is if you don't agree with it, you don't sign it.....I doubt there would ever be a petition started to keep TBS because there is no passion behind the ingorant comments that those people were making. Ignorance and ambition are not friends.

Even if there are people who really, really love the beer store, I think they are probably too busy sitting at home watching the mountains change colour on their cans of Coors to notice a ille good natured activism.

Change starts with small groups. Well spoken, informed small groups can influnence those willing to listen. The cause grows and change happens. It's all about getting the word out.

Thanks for the link to that new article Cass.

What really baffles me is the 'we're so efficient' defense. So what? It's like their last ditch, lame defense when faced with legitimate questions and criticisms. You know who else was even more efficient? The Nazi's. Maybe TBS is run by neo-Nazi's?

Also, I love when they make the claim that your average grocery/corner store would only carry 15 brands tops. Have these people nevr step foot into even a medium sized grocery store in the US? I can't speak for the whole country, but the Publix chain of stores in Florida has a selection that rivals the entire general list of items at the LCBO. They have entire isles dovoted to beer and wine.

"You know who else was even more efficient? The Nazi's. Maybe TBS is run by neo-Nazi's? "

WTF? Your hyperbole is undermining your crediblity. That is a ridiculous comparison, emoticons or not.

It's meant to sound ridiculous . I wasn't actually comparing TBS to the Nazi's. I guess I should have put in a disclaimer of sorts. You've never noticed my occasional use of ridiculous hyperbole before? It was a stupid joke, meant in a light hearted way to point out to stupidity of TBS 'efficiency' defense. I'll be the first to admit it wasn't terribly funny, but taking it at face value as a compromising of my credibility is a tad overly dramatic in my view. I thought being overly dramatic was my job here on the Bartowel .

Malcolm wrote:"You know who else was even more efficient? The Nazi's. Maybe TBS is run by neo-Nazi's? "

WTF? Your hyperbole is undermining your crediblity. That is a ridiculous comparison, emoticons or not.

Have a beer and relax Hoss.

I loved the part when the article mentioned that Dalton McGuinty's son works in a Beer Store. Everything suddenly became 100% clear after I read that sentence.

DragonOfBlood wrote: I loved the part when the article mentioned that Dalton McGuinty's son works in a Beer Store. Everything suddenly became 100% clear after I read that sentence.

You'd think with dad as Premier he could land you some sweet corporate job (or at least a VJ slot on MuchMusic). Maybe he's thick...

Even former U.S. President Jimmy Carter couldn't get his brother to do much other than work at a gas station. Billy was thick as a plank and about as racist as they come.

I have received a number of private messages encouraging me not to permanently leave the bartowel, and as a result I have decided to stick around. In the future I will not get so emotionally involved, and I will limit my LCBO defence posts as most people here find them to be insane.