Overhaul of Alberta liquor laws put on hold
AGLC planned to ask public for input
Albertans expecting to have their say this summer on a proposed overhaul of liquor laws aren’t getting the chance after all — at least not yet.
The Alberta Gaming and Liquor Commission (AGLC) announced in March it was consulting the public on a long-promised review of laws restricting alcohol.
The agency said feedback from Albertans would play a big role in helping it understand the extent of changes needed to modernize liquor laws while maintaining safety.
But the NDP election victory in May untracked those plans.
“The review of liquor laws is currently on hold,” said AGLC spokeswoman Tatjana Laskovic on Tuesday.
“We are awaiting government direction. They wanted to fully understand the scope and the intent of the review before we proceed with the public consultation.”
A spokeswoman for Alberta Treasury Board and Finance said in an email that the AGLC has prepared a comprehensive plan to review liquor legislation, regulation and policies.
“We are currently reviewing that plan,” said Carolyn Gregson, assistant director of communications for the department.
“There are a number of considerations and we want to ensure when we proceed, that it is thoughtful and responsible. The safety of Albertans and their communities is a top priority and we want to ensure a liquor review is inclusive of all Albertans as well as stakeholders in the liquor industry.”
There is no timeline on when the review would resume because the government is focused on the fall budget, but a decision is expected soon, Gregson said.
Using social media and a website, the AGLC planned to ask Albertans on everything from liquor-serving hours, minimum drink prices, distilling of beverages in bars, happy hours and entertainment at retailers.
“I think it could be extremely revolutionary,” AGLC president and CEO Bill Robinson said in March.
The AGLC said a review was necessary in February 2014 after it loosened the rules on liquor-service hours during an Olympic gold medal hockey game and for the Calgary Stampede.
Mark von Schellwitz, vice- president of Western Canada for industry group Restaurants Canada, said he was disappointed with the delay.
“Our industry is a really time-consuming and handson type of business and anything you can do to reduce the red tape and streamline the liquor licensing and purchasing process, the better it is for our members,” von Schellwitz said.
Meanwhile, the change in government has not disrupted the AGLC’s investigation on launching online gaming. The AGLC put out a request for information tender that closed in February for companies interested in suppling Internet gambling.
“We are currently reviewing those proposals that we received,” Laskovic said.
“We will be putting together a solution for the government and then it will be up to the government to decide whether we proceed with online gaming.” bmah@edmontonjournal. com Twitter.com/mahspace