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Doug Ford wants alcohol in convenience stores
(www.theglobeandmail.com)
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this post was submitted on 04 Jul 2023
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It's sad that our regulations about alcohol sales are so restrictive, but it's unfortunately very necessary because of how our built environment exists. It's correlated with drunk driving deaths because there's not enough ways to get home that aren't driving. We can't really fix one without the other. I'd love to have a European-style picnic with wine I bought at the store on the corner, but that means at least 10% of the people on the road are going to be drunk driving at any given time which isn't ideal.
I lived in an EU city in the mid/late 00s, and one of the nicest things was never having to worry about who was the DD. It wasn't a big city, and quite compact. Walk 15 minutes and multiple pub and restaurant options. The equivalent of CAD$25 including tip would get you and 3-4 friends out and back to a respectable chunk of the city.
Yo can buy wine and beer in corner stores and drink in parks all over Quebec and it's not a problem. Ontario isn't different, except for the persistent smell of prohibition (which started in Ontario!).
They said the same thing about weed stores and there hasn't been any increase in accidents.
Those who want to drink will drink, making it more accessible won't change that. It'll be nice not having to drive multiple kilometres to get a sixpack.
Also proceeds from the LCBO and Beer Store fund programs for alcohol and drug addiction.
There's also the increased suicides, emergency room visits, and cancer rates.
Access to alcohol is fine, but it shouldn't be encouraged. A little bit of friction discourages access, and helps people moderate themselves.
I've lived in quite a few places in my life and those that have the worst alcohol problems are the most restrictive ones. Restricting means more binge drinking, there's a lot of empirical evidence showing that.
Perhaps it's high time our government stops treating us like irresponsible children.
Cool anecdote, but the article mentions a correlation between increased availability and the issues mentioned.
I know that from official data and having lived there. Restrictions are a catalyst for excessive use. Those restrictions have been around for quite some time and generally haven't made things any better. Those who want to drink will drink, regardless of how many assholes are between them and the liquor store.
This points to other socioeconomic causes for alcoholism. Any prohibition or restriction is just punishing the victims further.
This means we'd actually have to make our justice system actually punish drunk and careless driving. The best way to commit murder in Canada is with a car, you will get out in a couple of years!
Drunk drivers don't need punishment afterward, they need peer pressure before.
There are plenty of ways to get home without driving in cities.
You can already buy alcohol in corner stores in rural Ontario. You've been able to since the 1960s!