The current debates surrounding Saskatchewan's liquor laws would have had prohibitionists pulling their hair out. From the legislature to the local bar scene, making it legal for more people to drink and sell alcohol are hot topics being deliberated across the province.
Younger residents have to wait too long to legally purchase alcohol, according to Sask. Party members, who passed a resolution in favor of lowering the legal drinking age from 19 to 18 years-of-age during the party's annual convention on Nov. 5.
The resolution has some concerned about its broader implications, even within the Sask. Party. Minister of Saskatchewan Liquor and Gaming Authority, Donna Harpauer, herself was skeptical of dropping the legal drinking age.
"In the past, I was the education minister as well as the social services ministerI have seen in those portfolios that there are social issues around substance abuse - both alcohol and drugs - and I think that should be taken into consideration," the minister told reporters.
Arcola resident Mike Brown shared his opinion about the proposed amendment with The Observer. When asked whether the legal drinking age should be lowered, Brown replied "Yes. You can smoke and decide who's to lead your country but not have a drink?"
Nathan Sgrazzutti, president of the University of Regina Students' Union, spoke at the Sask. Party's annual convention and was also in favor of lowering the legal drinking age. In Sgrazzutti's words, "the majority of students are going to drink - it's a part of the cultureThis is not an argument of, 'Should 18-year-olds be drinking?' This is an argument of, 'Should 18-year-olds be drinking legally?' That is fundamentally different."
Minister Harpauer, however, had fewer reservations about the private ownership of new liquor stores; it will free up the government's ability to build schools, nursing homes and hospitals, she said in a public statement.
The NDP was quick to point out that much of the funding for these services comes from public, not private ownership, of liquor stores. "From those revenues of course we have education and health care and highways spending," said NDP MLA Buckley Belanger.
