Manitoba bill would widen alcohol sales, make booze buying more convenient
The Charleswood Beer Market has a lot of variety when it comes to beer, but manager Rick Green said customers often ask him about other options they aren’t allowed to sell.
“Especially wine. People want to see wine, for sure,” he said.
Green would like to expand his inventory. If he is allowed to sell beer, he thinks he should be able to sell other types of alcoholic beverages,
New legislation introduced by the province means Green might be able to soon.
It would allow private beer vendors and wine stores to sell different types of alcohol. If the bill passes, beer stores could stock wine and hard alcohol, and wine stores could bring in beer and hard liquor, if they so choose.
There would be no changes to government-owned liquor marts or duty free outlets.
“Really, it means in Winnipeg, you’re going to have 70 more locations to buy spirits, to buy wine, to buy beer,” said Liquor and Lotteries Minister Scott Fielding.
Hit hard by the pandemic, Manitoba Hotel Association President Scott Jocelyn said some vendors will jump at the chance to add wine and spirits.
“We continue to need new opportunities like the one announced today,” Jocelyn said.
The legislation only applies to current licensed businesses, but the bill does allow for a five-year pilot project, which could see the government experiment with private liquor sales in places like grocery and convenience stores, and campgrounds.
“Would it be more convenient for Manitobans to be able to pick up maybe a six-pack when you’re camping or something at the camp office?” said Fielding.
Meanwhile, Green said wine and spirits would be favourable for his bottom line, but he says he would have to boost security measures if he introduced hard stuff with his suds.
“The theft issue, the safety of staff and other customers” Green explained.
The legislation isn’t expected to pass until the fall.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Indian envoy warns of 'big red line,' days after charges laid in Nijjar case
India's envoy to Canada insists relations between the two countries are positive overall, despite what he describes as 'a lot of noise.'
Stormy Daniels describes meeting Trump during occasionally graphic testimony in hush money trial
With Donald Trump sitting just feet away, Stormy Daniels testified Tuesday at the former president's hush money trial about a sexual encounter the porn actor says they had in 2006 that resulted in her being paid to keep silent during the presidential race 10 years later.
U.S. paused bomb shipment to Israel to signal concerns over Rafah invasion, official says
The U.S. paused a shipment of bombs to Israel last week over concerns that Israel was approaching a decision on launching a full-scale assault on the southern Gaza city of Rafah against the wishes of the U.S.
Former homicide detective explains how police will investigate shooting outside Drake's Bridle Path mansion
Footage from dozens of security cameras in the area of Drake’s Bridle Path mansion could be the key to identifying the suspect responsible for shooting and seriously injuring a security guard outside the rapper’s sprawling home early Tuesday morning, a former Toronto homicide detective says.
Northern Ont. woman makes 'eggstraordinary' find
A chicken farmer near Mattawa made an 'eggstraordinary' find Friday morning when she discovered one of her hens laid an egg close to three times the size of an average large chicken egg.
Susan Buckner, who played spirited cheerleader Patty Simcox in 'Grease,' dead at 72
Susan Buckner, best known for playing peppy Rydell High School cheerleader Patty Simcox in the 1978 classic movie musical 'Grease,' has died. She was 72.
Jeremy Skibicki has 'uphill battle' to prove he's not criminally responsible in Winnipeg killings: legal analysts
Accused killer Jeremy Skibicki could have a challenging time convincing a judge that he is not criminally responsible for the deaths of four Indigenous women, a legal analyst says.
Bye-bye bag fee: Calgary repeals single-use bylaw
A Calgary bylaw requiring businesses to charge a minimum bag fee and only provide single-use items when requested has officially been tossed.
Alcohol believed to be a factor in boating incident after 2 men die: N.S. RCMP
Two Nova Scotia men are dead after a boat they were travelling in sank in the Annapolis River in Granville Centre, N.S., on Monday.