More Private Liquor Stores Increase Alcohol Troubles

Rise In Private Liquor Stores

Linked To Rise In Alcohol Related Issues

It is reported in the Times Colonist that a UVic study shows an increase in alcohol consumption and alcohol related deaths tied to an increase in private liquor stores in the province. The study shows a 3.25% increase in alcohol related deaths occurring with every 20% increase in private liquor store density.

The often lower prices offered and easier availability are contributing factors in the rising consumption and rising death rate. The findings should hardly come as a surprise.

NANAIMO PRIVATE OUTLETS KEEPS ON GROWING

When I was a young and foolish guy in 1970 when I moved to Nanaimo, one of the 'sports' was to see if you could go from one end of Nanaimo to the other, having one pint in each pub. Only highly seasoned and liver damaged professional drinkers could actually accomplish the feat.

There used to be one liquor store downtown and later one opened at Terminal Park when the Overwaitea Store moved. Both of these locations had block long line ups at Christmas time as everyone bought their holiday booze (usually using their holiday bonus) to entertain their guests over the holidays.

There was the ability to buy beer from the pubs in those days, but the government liquor store had the monopoly on the hard stuff.

It took some serious planning to buy enough booze by closing time on Saturday to ensure you could remain drunk all through Sunday without making a run to the bootlegger. The 26 ounce flu was a common malady come Monday morning.

NOW YOU CAN BUY THE STUFF ANYTIME ANYWHERE

It takes no planning whatever now if you run out of booze, even on a Sunday. All you have to do is stagger to your closest purveyor of spirits and you can keep on binging right through the entire weekend. I doubt if you could find a bootlegger anywhere these days, there would be no need as you can practically crawl to a private liquor store from anywhere in the city now. The bootlegger has been replaced by quite respectable establishments, the one at Country Club Mall being a most recent place of worship.

Those in power are pretty much caught on the horns of a dilemma when it comes to things like alcohol, tobacco and gambling. There are few who could argue any of these vices have any redeeming qualities, but we sure would be in trouble if we lost those sources of revenue.