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LCBO and Liquor Prices - wtf?
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| Wrangler |
http://www.globaltoronto.com/auditor+general+takes+aim+at+lcbo+in+annual+report/6442536529/story.html
TORONTO – In a report released on Monday, the Auditor General questions why the Liquor Control Board of Ontario doesn’t do more to negotiate lower prices for alcohol in Ontario.
In the annual report released by the Auditor General on Monday, Jim McCarter explains that private-sector retailers “attempt to buy their products at the lowest possible cost.” McCarter goes on to explain that as one of the largest purchasers of alcohol in the world, one might expect the LCBO “to follow a similar approach.”
When purchasing alcohol from the LCBO -- a portion of the cost goes to the provincial treasury. For the last 18 years that amount has gone up – to $1.5 billion in 2010.
Finance Minister Dwight Duncan told reporters today, that – on average - Ontario still has the lowest prices for alcohol in Canada.
Comparing some popular brands:
Yellowtail Shiraz:
Ontario: $11.95
Alberta: $10.99
Buffalo: $6.99
Glenfiddich Whiskey:
Ontario: $45
Alberta: $37
Buffalo: $31
Corona:
Ontario: $12
Alberta: $15
Buffalo: $8.79
As part of the LCBO mandate, it also has a social responsibility to promote safe drinking practices by setting reasonable prices. The LCBO buys products based on what they are planning on selling them at. According to the Auditor General’s report, the LCBO has even asked retailers to raise prices – what he says – is lost revenue for the province.
^^ :whip: i don't know about you but it is silly how much people here let their government dictate what they can and cannot do |
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| Yohan |
| gotta love govt monopoly |
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| ChemEnhanced |
| just ban alcohol altogether |
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| Guest |
| yeah, because prohibition worked well in the past |
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| ChemEnhanced |
| quote: | Originally posted by chris1011
yeah, because prohibition worked well in the past |
depends on how you look at it....it did reduce the amount of alcohol consumed and it did decrease the amount of public drunkenness. Even though prohibition did not work out there were many benefits because of it. Prohibition took away the stereotype that only men drink and it became more acceptable for women to drink which led to a completely new market to advertise to. It turned many people into entrepreneurs and helped create new types of drinks. |
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| Orko |
They specifically mandated that we cannot have a buck a beer anymore, for 'social responsibility'. BS.
If they lowered prices, they would loose tax revenues. |
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| Skipper |
Canada's alcohol taxes are high, but not the highest in the world from what I have observed.
For example, it's cheaper for me to buy a New Zealand wine in Canada (specifically in Nova Scotia - where I saw this wine most recently - and taxes in NS are higher than in Ontario) compared to purchasing it actually IN New Zealand. I couldn't believe that! NZ has ridiculously high alcohol taxes and a big part of that is the social responsibility "BS" as you guys put it. I would imagine higher alcohol taxes do reduce consumption to some extent.
Generally speaking, we live in a culture of higher alcohol consumption and binge drinking, and that's why we have higher taxes/prices. |
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| Swamper |
| quote: | Originally posted by Skipper
Generally speaking, we live in a culture of higher alcohol consumption and binge drinking, and that's why we have higher taxes/prices. |
There wouldn't be as much binge drinking if last call was eliminated |
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| Endlesswave |
| quote: | Originally posted by Swamper
There wouldn't be as much binge drinking if last call was eliminated |
Of course. Or maybe at first people would but then their livers would quickly say otherwise. :p |
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| Skipper |
| quote: | Originally posted by Swamper
There wouldn't be as much binge drinking if last call was eliminated |
You think? I'm not talking just about last call. I am talking about just regular, ongoing, alcohol abuse - the prevalence and acceptance in our society of getting wasted. I think this is so ingrained in our culture that if you got rid of last call we would just drink til dawn instead of go home. We don't drink moderately like people in other countries do.
There have been studies done that correlate more northern climates with higher drinking rates while more moderate consumption happens closer to the equator. That could be why you see higher taxes and restricted drinking hours in places like Canada, England, Finland, Russia... |
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| jester |
| It probably costs more here in Quebec. |
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| Ozmözis |
| Liquor Prices are a joke in Ontario. |
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