Nova Scotia going to the public about expanding retail sale of alcohol in the province
The government of Nova Scotia announced that it will be going to its citizens to ask their opinions on the way alcohol is sold and consumed in the province.
“Nova Scotia is taking steps to eliminate interprovincial trade barriers, and that makes this a good time to look at how alcohol is sold and consumed,” said Finance and Treasury Board Minister John Lohr in a written statement on the initiative. “This could include expanding retail options or allowing more places where people can drink alcoholic beverages. We’ll be reaching out to interested groups and polling Nova Scotians to determine whether this is something they’re interested in and what their concerns might be.”
The initiative will begin next week and continue to the end of June. Some 1,500 Nova Scotian over the age of 19 will be surveyed asking them:
- the types of stores where alcohol can be sold
- locations where adults over 19 can drink alcohol
- health and safety considerations for any potential changes.
According to the provincial government, alcohol is sold in just over 300 retail locations, including Nova Scotia Liquor Corp. corporate and agency stores, private wine and specialty stores, on-site stores at breweries and wineries, and farmers’ markets.
READ: Ontario provincial conservatives to spend hundreds of millions to boost alcohol sector
Not everyone is pleased with the government’s plan, as it will also be reaching out to some 250 stakeholders who are being asked to provide feedback.
MSN is reporting that a coalition of health groups in the province is asking that those talks be transparent and for consideration of potential risks to play a factor in any decision.
"Talking to groups that are trying to make a difference and move the needle on health outcomes that are impacted by alcohol is a really important voice to have when we do these types of consultations," said Kara Thompson, an associate professor, research chair in substance use policy and prevention, and director of the Institute for Innovation in Health at St. Francis Xavier University and chairs the Nova Scotia Alcohol Policy Coalition.
The MSN report added that the Nova Scotia Alcohol Policy Coalition put together a letter expressing its concerns about expanding the places where alcohol can be sold and consumed in the province. It was sent to all provincial MLAs. The letter also
The group sent a letter this week to all 55 MLAs in the province, along with senior health and finance officials, outlining their concerns with the potential of expanded sales points, and of the impacts alcohol has on the health of persons and the costs to the province’s books in treating alcohol-related health issues.
Others who signed the letter included representatives for the Canadian Cancer Society, a pediatric emergency medicine doctor from the IWK Health Centre and organizations that fight intimate partner and family violence.
