Why are boozecans a problem?

Well, perhaps there is no problem with boozecans. I currently reside in a country where you can pretty much buy booze anywhere(including convenience stores), around the clock. People here don't seem to mind it, and if it works for them, who am I complain.

But it seems to me that Canadians generally want to have a greater degree of restrictions on when and where you can buy booze. Maybe Canadians are just a bunch of uptight prudes, but as long as that's the way public sentiment is going, then after-hours clubs, which flout the restrictions in a pretty flagrant manner, should probably be shut down.

I think your question is not really "Why do we need to shut down boozecans?", but rather, "Why do we need such severe restrictions on when and where you can buy alcohol?"

By the way, we are NOT the people in Canada who consume the most average alcohol units, because QuébécoisEs consume very little hard liquor - mostly beer and wine. 

I agree that the type of restrictions one finds in Ontario, for example, are ridiculous. Main restrictions should involve a ban on drink driving and anything else that can harm others. 

Social problems fuelled by booze are another matter, but I don't think opening hours have much to do with those; that is a whole other discussion, and an important one. 

I couldn't possibly stay up even for Ontario closing time - think it has been extended to 2 am? But ageing boomers are scarcely the key clientele. 

Is your son drinking age yet? 

Seems to me the society and booze relationships are kind of doomed to stay where they are. Canadians seem to envy the ways of Europe and the open, public drinking -- especially in parks or beaches in summer. We all try to sneak away with it, and know those special places where you won't get busted.

I'm living in the US currently and the novelty of great beer/wine selections in grocery stores has not worn off, nor has the discount pricing (!), but the strange fascination with booze here seems to be exacerbated by the somewhat ridiculous age restriction. 

I think there is definitely a conversation and point to be made from keeping things so restricted and so illegal for some greatly increases the desire to want and also can pervert the culture around that potentially -- frat culture?

lagatta wrote:

I agree that the type of restrictions one finds in Ontario, for example, are ridiculous. Main restrictions should involve a ban on drink driving and anything else that can harm others. 

For that matter, in Germany you can drive around with open liquor and pass the bottle around - so long as the driver is sober and not partaking in the rounds.

Another thing is, with all the restrictions on legal drinking, there always has been an active culture of illegal booze-making.

@Lagatta: nah, definitely no park drinking in Van City, or from what I have seen in the states. In Van, there are definitely a select few you know you can just have a few beers and it is low key, but in others they are well policed. Oh Montreal, I long for you and all your food, beers, and brick walls.

I feel like if Canada were to make lesser restrictions, e.g. public drinking in moderation (with picnics, in parks), I'm not sure the majority would do well. Everything would be thrown into excess -- but maybe that is a naive response. I just remember when I was before 19, drinking (now kindly reflected upon as 'loser drinking' or 'teenage drunk') was this weird sport and opportunity to brag and boast. The specific teenage culture of "who was the drunkest" is super dumb and I think is reinforced by making this taboo and "off-limits" culture around booze. 

I guess that whole thought process can slippery-slope into something else though, as there should be age restricitions on consumption, etc.

Just a little moderation I suppose.

In one rural community where I lived I was advised to not drink in the local bar; to do so would make me a drunk.

On the other hand, the first thing that went on the table when you visited someone's home was the bottle of moonshine.

Every community has their own set of rules.

I think the Ontario government is going to introduce wine kiosks in supermarkets run by the LCBO (perhaps selling beer too).  I've seen all sorts of new liquor stores open up in various locations in Toronto.  Seems to be one way the government is attempting to curb the deficit.

Quote:

I agree that the type of restrictions one finds in Ontario, for example, are ridiculous. Main restrictions should involve a ban on drink driving and anything else that can harm others.

To play devil's advocate, the form of the above argument almost sounds like an argument that the gun-lobby makes against gun control.  IE, alcohol doesn't kill people, people acting criminally with alcohol kills people, so "Main restrictions should involve a ban on drink driving and anything else that can harm others", but not restrictions on the sale of alcohol to adults (IE, location or times) and not restirictions on where one can have alcohol.  Replace "alcohol" with "guns" and the argument is almost identical to some arguments the gun lobby makes.

Mr tea, try Premier Foods in Buffalo

I agree but their new location is awesome. Got some of my dogfish head beer with some new ones

My inlaws have a place not far from the dogfish head brewery in delaware so its all goooood

Kaitlin McNabb wrote:

Oh Dogfish head is so good. I live close to Delaware right now, so it is always available. Everyone kind. And Michigan beers too, especially Founders.

Kaitlin, if you like Michigan beers, you should check out Bell's Brewery. They've got an India Pale Ale called "Hop Slam" which really lives up to its name. Also one called "Two Hearted Ale" which is excellent.

San Diego is considered the mecca for craft beer (particularly the really hoppy IPAs that I like) and we're taking a trip there in June. The Blue Jays are playing the Padres, which will be awesome, the kids are excited to go to the zoo and Sea World and my wife and I are gonna let my mom babysit for a night while she and I go on a tour of all the amazing craft breweries. If you can get your hands on beers by Stone Brewing Co., Alesmith, or Ballast Point, you're in for a real treat.

Yep, America is awesome for beer. I remember just thinking how cool it was to be buying good beer at a 7-11 on Christmas Day. For about half what I'd pay at the LCBO. God bless America!

If you're in DC, you should check out a bar called the Church Key. Great beer bar.

And, yes, Stone Ruination is probably my favourite beer out there. They did a limited edition release for for teh 10th anniversary of Ruination and I managed to score two big bomber bottles of it. It was absolute amazing. Poured it into the glass and was immediately transported to a hop meadow.

We're taking a tour of Stone's brewery during our trip to California in June. Can't wait to drink their stuff as fresh as possible.

I love Oskar Blue's! You're right, it's a great, easy drinking beer, especially Dale's Pale Ale. I tried their double IPA at a bar great craft beer bar in Brooklyn and it was amazing as well. Colorado is supposed to be another awesome place beer. I'm gonna have to make a trip out to there soon as well.

Yeah, I read a really interesting article on teh growth of craft beer. It basically explains that before prohibition, there were thousands of little breweries. Before transportation and refrigeration improved, you basically needed beer to be brewed locally. It could only go as far as a horse and buggy could take it so each town had its own brewery. Many pubs brewed their beer on the premises. Then prohibition destroyed it and after the repeal, it was the big players (Budweiser, etc.) who were able to ramp up again quickly and they began to dominate teh market with very bland generic beer (fizzy yellow stuff, essentially). It's nice to see that people are finally starting to realize that beer can be so much more than that and that you've got all these little craft brewers popping up and making amazing stuff.

I also love that great beer is so much more...I guess "democratic" or "accessible" maybe. Like if you want to drink really good wine, you're gonna spend a fortune. The difference between terrible plonk wine and amazing wine can be thousands of dollars. But the diffeernce between a shitty beer and a great beer is maybe a couple bucks, which I'm very happy to pay for something so much better.