Province poised to allow drinking in parks
EDMONTON Albertans will soon be allowed to enjoy a bottle of wine or a cold beer in parks across the province as the government moves to modernize liquor laws.
Grant Hunter, associate minister of red tape reduction, tabled Bill 2: the Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis Amendment Act in the legislature Wednesday, allowing for public consumption of alcohol in designated areas in any recreational park. The owner of each park will have final say over whether to permit it.
“We don’t think we need to be prescriptive on adults. We actually trust Albertan adults to make good decisions,” said Hunter at a news conference before the session.
Last June, Premier Jason Kenney
and Parks and Environment Minister Jason Nixon announced drinking would be allowed in 14 provincial park picnic areas as long as it was accompanied with food. Once Bill 2 comes into effect on April 1, the food requirement will no longer be in effect.
Bill 2 allows for Alberta Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis (AGLC), the province’s liquor regulator, to impose conditions on licences for problem establishments without having to issue a violation.
“It’s for situations where law enforcement has brought to our attention licensed premises where public safety is an issue,” said Dave Berry, vice-president of regulator services with AGLC.
“An example of such a condition could be a coat check or a bag check to make it very hard for somebody to bring in a weapon.”
Berry said licensees can proactively put security measures in place. The new law is a last resort for establishments that refuse to address problems. He also noted it is rare to find licensees who are unwilling to make necessary changes.
The bill will also allow two of the remaining dry areas in the province, Cardston County and portions of the County of Warner No. 5, to decide whether they want to remove a 1950s-era prohibition imposed by the province.
“This is the process of standardizing our regulations across Alberta,” said Hunter.
Bill 2 also clarifies that liquor is permitted as a raffle prize. Liquor prizes were previously allowed but the practice was not explicitly outlined in liquor laws.
Liquor licence approval processes will also be streamlined for municipalities and Métis settlements.