CANADIAN LIQUOR LAW

Hokitika Guardian, 1 August 1924, Page 3

CANADIAN LIQUOR LAW

••Tin. Quebec Government in older to i berk tne bootlegger or sly-grog soiler.” according to Mr A. L. Dawe. of .Montreal who is visiting New Zealand, “decided that they would have in come out into the ojcu, realising lliat the J eople wanted to buy liquor. 'I be brewers and wine mcrcliaiis could .-ell their products, but tne big problem was how to market the spirits without bringing hack the old-time lair. A Commission, m which there were some line, public spirited men .some Fiench and some English—was organised and is known as the Quc|,ec l.iipior Commission. It is tho onlv organisation that is authorised vo import, boy or sell bipmr in the province of Quebec. I bey buy all wines and spiiits: beer is still left in the bands ol the brewers. It a man wants to buy spirits be goes to one of the forty litpior stores throughout the city and he is allowed to buy one bottle of spirits at a time, although die law does not .specify how many times per day. and he may go to dift e leu t stores. A limn may buy as much wine as he likes and the reason is that the Quebec Government would rather see the people drink beer or wine than whisky and gin.

"When tlie bar was abolished the Commissioners saw that they would have to provide the man in the street with the ei|uivaleut of the city Clubs. They Started cafes on the European system, with the exception that only Peer, is soTd. The customers sit at' tables to accommodate four or six people. These eases and the liquor stores are under the (ontrol of the Commission, which buys spirits from the distilleries and imports the wines from Frame. They pay excise tax to the Federal Government, which, in the case of Quebec, puts something like £500.000 a year into the Federal (offers. They also pay a provincial tax. After they paid all their expenses their last year’s profits were £50..000. The provincial Government is rapidly reducing its debt, and is spending the excess in making roads and building schools.”