Vodka jugs violate spirit of `responsible pricing': minister
The Service Alberta minister says he'd be willing to exercise authority contained in a new government bill to address what he described as the concerning sale of vodka in four-litre containers that resemble milk jugs or water jugs.
The jugs contain vodka at 40 per cent alcohol by volume and were photographed at a south Edmonton liquor store last weekend by Edmonton Journal reporter Lauren Boothby.
They list the bottler of the liquor as T-rex Distillery out of St. Albert and were pictured as being for sale at $49.95 each excluding tax and deposit.
Speaking to reporters Monday, Service Alberta Minister Dale Nally said he just learned of the jugs and said it was “not very responsible” for them to be sold in the province.
“We can all agree that when we see a four-litre plastic jug of vodka, that's not very responsible,” he said.
“I don't think a four-litre plastic jug of vodka adds to the quality of the distillery industry that we have in this province,” he said.
“I don't think that it is responsible pricing to price it like that.”
He added that while the jugs are in compliance with current regulations, that didn't make them acceptable, in his view.
“What is not in compliance with this is the spirit of Albertans which is what we believe is responsible pricing,” he said.
“I have a problem with all of it.” Nally's comments came ahead of him unveiling in the legislature Bill 16: the Red Tape Reduction Statutes Amendment Act, 2024.
The bill contains a number of largely unrelated updates to existing legislation and regulations that, if passed, will affect 10 different government ministries.
Among those changes are amendments to the Gaming Liquor and Cannabis Act that the government says would “clarify the authority of (the minister) to make policy decisions related to alcohol, liquor and gaming sectors, when there is a direct impact on government revenues, including regulation-making authority regarding liquor prices that already exist for cannabis prices.”
Nally said that under current rules, Alberta Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis (AGLC) already has to get his approval for pricing changes.
“We are changing the alignment of the regulation legislation to reflect what happens in practice,” he said. “So if we don't pass this, then it will be the AGLC that will be looking into responsible pricing and not me.”
He went on to say he'd take action to address the jumbo jugs should the bill be passed.
“If this bill passes, I'll be able to respond to that very quickly.”
Medical experts responded on social media to an image of the vodka jugs with apprehension. citing the health concerns around alcohol and packaging.
Edmonton intensive care physician Dr. Darren Markland called the jugs “crazy dangerous” and stated they contain liquor strong enough that a half-cup could possibly kill a four-year-old.
Alcohol is known to cause cancer and has long been listed by the International Agency for Research on Cancer as a group 1 carcinogen alongside asbestos, radiation and tobacco.
Last February, Alberta Health Services revamped its messaging to coincide with updated federal guidelines regarding the health risks of consuming two or more alcoholic drinks a week.