Liquor-law reforms: the glass is only half full

There is good and not so good in the legislation introduced this week to update Quebec’s liquor laws.

On the whole, Bill 68 measures up to the objective set by its sponsor, Public Security Minister Robert Dutil: to loosen some of the more antiquated rules governing liquor service without necessarily encouraging people to drink more.

The most publicized and most welcome change is the proposal to allow restaurant diners who order bottles of wine with their meals to take unfinished bottles home with them, so long as they are securely corked. The bill would also authorize those who do so to transport them in their cars, a loos- ening of the current rule against such a practice.

This is welcome for two reasons. For one thing, wine-drinkers will be able to get full value for the wines they purchase at restaurants, typically at a substantial markup from the liquor-store price. It will also encourage more rational consumption, in that people will not feel a need to gulp down the whole bottle in order to get their money’s worth.

Also eminently sensible are the provisions to loosen up some of the nitpickety restrictions on serving alcohol in establishments that may not have full-scale food service, such as cafés and canteens. Smaller meals and snacks will now qualify as meals – a recognition that eating habits have evolved and that many people prefer simpler, lighter meals with a beer or glass of wine on the side.

Nor is it a bad idea to require that the managers of licensed establishments be subject to the same rule as the establishments’ permit-holders and have clean criminal records for the past five years. Or that alcohol-servers have received instruction on “responsible service” – i.e. cutting off the obviously impaired.

But not so commendable is the proposal to allow minors accompanied by an adult on bar terrasses as late as 11 p.m., as opposed to the 8 p.m. limit that is currently in force. The change has been roundly criticized by the provincial association of bar-owners as well as Éduc’alcool, a non-profit organization that promotes moderation in alcohol consumption.

Bar-owners rightly complain that the change would enable underage teens, either singly or in groups, to be on terrasses to late hours simply by being accompanied by some- one 18 or over. While the law would still not allow them to be served liquor, the change would nevertheless enable more underage drinking and impose an unwarranted additional burden on bar staff to enforce the law.

The rationale for the change advanced by the government is that it would make life easier for families who often feel a need to rush their meals on bar terrasses in order to conform to the eight o’clock rule. But besides attracting teenagers to such drinking establishments, it could be annoying for other patrons to have small children around at their watering holes as late at night as the legislation proposes.

The bill will be subject to committee study and the minister has said he is open to making changes. Keeping the kiddies off bar terrasses deep into the night is one that should be made.