Minimum pricing in AB, AFAIK, is regulated on the wholesale price of the product. So, producers are regulated, but retail stores aren’t prevented from competition, loss leaders, stunts, etc., which is what this might be.
Given that the tax money from alcohol/tobacco just goes into provincial and federal slush funds that proportionately end up being funneled into seniors benefits, I don’t believe minimum pricing really addresses the things that people think it does. I’m an advocate of directing alcohol taxes towards the harms it creates. But, try to find a politician who wants to grind that axe. I say this as someone who enjoys a good beverage, & acknowledging the pragmatic importance of offsetting the healthcare costs of alcohol abuse. I don’t believe that simply making a good more expensive is the wisest move on the policy side, if healthcare outcomes are the ultimate target.
Alberta does have minimum prices for both wholesale as well as on-premise liquor.
Based on this image, I just assumed that they didn’t.
That jug is 160 units for $50. $0.31 per unit is a little low.
Minimum pricing in AB, AFAIK, is regulated on the wholesale price of the product. So, producers are regulated, but retail stores aren’t prevented from competition, loss leaders, stunts, etc., which is what this might be.
Given that the tax money from alcohol/tobacco just goes into provincial and federal slush funds that proportionately end up being funneled into seniors benefits, I don’t believe minimum pricing really addresses the things that people think it does. I’m an advocate of directing alcohol taxes towards the harms it creates. But, try to find a politician who wants to grind that axe. I say this as someone who enjoys a good beverage, & acknowledging the pragmatic importance of offsetting the healthcare costs of alcohol abuse. I don’t believe that simply making a good more expensive is the wisest move on the policy side, if healthcare outcomes are the ultimate target.