McGuinty gearing up to take on pharmacies over generic-drugs pricing

[Woody]

They are like junkies ... they need there quick fix and do not care for the long term.
If they where smart, they would sell franchises and then they could have there cake and eat it too.

[paul m]

Hello Woody. They are like junkie's except we pay for their fix. Up here they have franchised some of the liquor stores. If you run a small variety store more than 10km from the nearest LCBO you can apply for a small franchise. It's not working out well. Take Care. paul m

[uni]

Paul, in what way is it not working out well?

[Woody]

Paul, do you mean the kiosk in the grocery store that sell over priced wines?

[paul m]

Hello Woody and Uni. This are the common variety store. I live in tourist and cottage coutry so so would have a gas bar, milk, video rentals, sell fish licences etc. What used to be your typical overpriced corner grocery store (I guess like a 7/11 in town). There called agency store and a few have been around up north for years.

The problem we are seeing is you now have almost instant availability of booze, but being at the end of the road there is little enforcement. Either by the cops or some of the people selling the booze. There are rules but if the small store owner doesn't make the sale,he is out not only that sale, but possibly the sale of cigarettes, gas, milk, bread and so on. Some of these stores are in marina right on the water and enforcement is really infrequent and a big boat can take $500 worth of gas.

Plus if you have store owners selling kids pks of cigarettes illegally, it doesn't take a genious that some of them are going to bend the rules on booze.

Last and most telling. I think the province has granted about 100 of this mini liquor stores in the last 3 yrs. Not one person has had his license revoked for misdeeds. No group of people are that good. But of course, according to Gov't stats it's all win win. Take Care. paul m

[Woody]

Paul, Quebec has had alcohol in there corner store for a very long time now and there is no empirical proof that there is more alcohol consumption there then the rest of Canada. There are similar difference in the US also between states. I do believe that there are regional factors; not too far from here, Grand Bend, party central for SW Ontario or the instance of remote communities.

[paul m]

Hello Woody. You illistrate my point perfectly. According to Stats Can, Quebec has a impaired driving rate that is about 45% higher than in Ontario. So while there is no empirical proof of increased alcohol comsumption, there is proof of unwise consumption at certain times.

Grand Bend, Wasaga Beach , Sauble Beach etc all are party centrals. The crowds swelling the population by factors of 10 and 20.One important difference beteen there and here. Extra police are assigned to them all during the summer. Those extra police have to come from somewhere else. Take Care. paul m

[Woody]

I think there are regional and cultural diffidences that need to be taken into considerations.

[paul m]

Hello Woody. I don't particuarily buy any arguement that involves drunk driving and culture. But to be fair, for some reason Sask. rate is about 4x that of Ontario and I don't think that they have booze available in corner stores. Most other provinces also have a higher rate of impaired driving than Quebec.

I am sure there are many more arguements, for and against and until they start affecting my mood I'll pass on future comment. Take Care. paul m

[uni]

Saskatchewan does catch a lot of drunk drivers. No booze at corner stores, we have gov't run Liquor Board Stores. We just have fewer people here and more cops, so more get caught! That's my story and I'm sticking to it.

[AJ]

Uni

[Atlantis]

The Provincial Gov't wants to sell off the liquor store. Who in their right mind would get rid of a liquor store. Talk about a license to print money.

i sure wish the gov't would "get rid" of VLT's that are in every bar/almost every restaurant in NL or atleast build a small casino, so those VLT's were not in some many places.

I realize alot of money from the gambling revenu goes to "good social" programs that benefit many and also a large portion goes to treatment of pathological gambling but are these monies worth the cost on families, i.e divorce, financial ruin and the big one,
no pro-gambling person can justify, the amount of suicides associated with pathological gambling.

I also realize these problems are associated with alcohol and drugs, so i know there are no easy solutions.

Any thoughts on the topic would be appreciated.

Take Care,

Karen

[paul m]

Hello Karen. One of the reasons I do not want liquor in corner stores is for the same reason you do not want VLT's all over. Some people can't help themselves. The only reason the gov't wants easily accessable booze and VLTs is so they can make more revenue in the short run. Gov'ts are supposed to help their citizens. I have to drive 15km to get my drivers license. Why do I need a corner liquor store(corner stores can apply if more than 10km away from a regular liquor store), but not a corner license bureau.

Studies have long proven that casino's as fund raisers for provincial gov'ts good deeds are a bust. If you need 3 billion dollars to fund provincial health care, income tax is a fairer way to do it. With straight income tax there is little in administration cost. With a casino there is staff, buildings,cost of machines etc to come out of the take. Not very effecient compared to income tax. When you take in all the extra social problems caused by casinos and lotterys the ineffeincys really mount. I've seen reports where provinces actually lose money where vlts are used when all costs are takien into acct.

Besides the gov't tends to change it's agenda with lottery funds. In Ontario when lottries first started, money went to locally funded projects, now it tends to go to large provincial wide projects that see's more publicity for the gov't. For example we have had a provincial drug plan for seniors and the poor for years. Now it is all funded by lottery proceeds and we are told how great the lotterys are. Ok, I'll put the soap box away.

It must be hard going into those places with vlts. Take Care. paul m p.s. not in Ontario yet, but the gov't is studing the idea.

[Atlantis]

I agree with you Paul.

And it is very hard to go out to a restaurant and try to have a nice meal with those machines staring at you, and it is a restaurant so why the need to put those VLT's in there anyways, and I am not talking only "pub" style restaurants but familly ones too, it is outrageous when you really think about it.

The problem is very similar to the selling alcohol at every little corner store and even some grocery stores in NL have liquor stores attached to them , it is too much.

I know there are many social drinkers/gamblers out there but there has to be consideration for both the additced and non-addicted person.

o.k., I think i am building my own "Soap Box" , probaly would of been easier to borrow yours.

Take Care,

Karen

[paul m]

Hello Karen. In regards to the soapbox. Mines pretty worn, but your welcome to use it. I probably borrowed it from somebody in the first place and just forgot to return it.

Not only that if you are using it, I have to keep my mth shut for a while and as people have told me "sometimes silence is golden" . I don't believe their right, but they have told me that . Borrow it anytime. Take Care. paul m