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Beverage Alcohol News Headlines

• Nova Scotia simplifies licensee approval process (Jul. 27/10)
• Changes to beer and wine taxes in Ontario (Jul. 6/10)
• CRFA action quashes new fee for Edmonton licensees (May 28/10)
• CRFA thanks Minister Aggelonitis for applying fair policy across Ontario (May 31/10)
• Ontario licensees saved from $24 million in extra costs (Jan. 21/10)
• Changes to liquor license hours in Vancouver (Oct. 21/09)
• Fair treatment for Ontario licensees … it’s time! (Sep. 11/09)
• Changes to liquor fees good news for Alberta restaurants and bars (Jul. 8/09)
• Tentative agreement reached in LCBO talks (Jun. 24/09)
• Fight the fee in Edmonton (Jun. 15/09)
• Liquor changes on the way in Saskatchewan (Apr. 21/09)
• Restaurant industry calls for action in upcoming Ontario budget (Feb. 6/09)
• In brief: Liquor service training regulations across Canada (Jan. 16/09)
• Statement from the Canadian Restaurant and Foodservices Association Regarding Responsible Service of Beverage Alcohol (Jan. 13/09)
• Nova Scotia chooses responsible service over restrictive regs (Oct. 20/08)
• Alberta gives a boost to bar safety (Jun. 27/08)
• Liquor changes on tap in Manitoba (Apr. 21/08)
• Liquor review on tap in Newfoundland and Labrador (Mar. 19/08)
• Manitoba licensees toast end to costly liquor levy (Jan. 16/08)

CRFA’s position on beverage alcohol

Privatize provincial distribution systems. Private sector distribution improves the range of products and services available to all consumers, including licensed foodservice operators. Under a privatized system, the number of outlets, the location of stores and product availability are all determined by customer demand.

Privatization does not mean that government does not have an important role to play. Government will continue to license, regulate and monitor beverage alcohol sales, while leaving the selection and retailing of beverage alcohol to the private sector.

Replace licensee levies with a flat tax. Another benefit of privatization is the elimination of licensee levies. Government can continue to earn revenue on beverage alcohol sales through a flax tax system. With a flat tax, government estimates its revenue requirements, projects how much beverage alcohol will be sold, and simply adds a fixed tax to each bottle. A flat tax preserves government revenues while ensuring that licensed operators can provide their customers with competitively priced products through wholesale pricing offered by private-sector distributors.