538 replies to this topic

[Victoria Watcher]

I did just that this evening. Bought one large beer for my friend and I to share after our walk tomorrow.

 

what did you get?

[Redd42]

Hoyne Dark Matter. 

[LJ]

For some, it is portion control. If you take only one beer home, then you can only drink one beer.

 

I did just that this evening. Bought one large beer for my friend and I to share after our walk tomorrow.

One beer? And then share it? Really?

 

Wouldn't fit my lifestyle.

[Victoria Watcher]

One beer? And then share it? Really?

 

Wouldn't fit my lifestyle.

 

[LJ]

^Now were talking.

[Mike K.]

Islanders are among the biggest boozers of the biggest year of boozing:

British Columbians drank more alcohol during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic than they have in the past 20 years, according to the latest analysis of BC alcohol sales data from the University of Victoria’s Canadian Institute for Substance Use Research (CISUR).



Consumption for this past fiscal year (April 1, 2020 to March 31, 2021) was equivalent to 547 cans of 5% beer or 104 bottles of 12% wine per year for each per person aged 15+ in the province. At 9.32 litres (L) of pure alcohol per capita, this the highest level of alcohol consumption recorded since CISUR started monitoring it in 2001. It also confirms the rising trend CISUR first identified in the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic.



“This tells us the higher levels of consumption seen in the first few months of COVID were not the result of stockpiling, but of an overall increase in drinking sustained over the year,” says Dr. Tim Naimi, director of CISUR.



While consumption at bars and restaurants saw large decreases (60% and 46%, respectively), it was more than made up for in increases at private liquor stores, which accounted for 55% of all alcohol sold in the province.



“It has never been easier to buy alcohol in BC, and we know increased availability of alcohol leads to people drinking more,” says Naimi. “COVID-era changes to alcohol policy such as increased hours, government support for liquor retailers to develop online stores, expanded home delivery and declaring liquor stores an essential service have certainly played a role in these increases.”



Measured by health authority, Interior had the highest rates of consumption at 13.69L per capita, with Island Health second at 11.54L. Fraser was the lowest at 7.09L.



“In the past, some regions have pointed to tourism as a reason for above-average consumption rates, the assumption being that visitors accounted for a good chunk of alcohol purchases,” says Naimi. “Given the fact that BC saw many fewer tourists in the summer of 2020, this theory doesn’t appear to hold water.”



This research was supported by Health Canada.

[Nparker]

Islanders are among the biggest boozers of the biggest year of boozing:...

Have you seen the state of our local governments? I am surprised any of us are ever sober.

[Mike K.]

That might explain things, for sure.

[pontcanna]

Qualicum Beach airline’s lease terminated over party where COVID rules were allegedly flouted

• Times Colonist
• 15 Dec 2021

The Town of Qualicum Beach has terminated the lease for new airline Oceanside Air, saying COVID-19 protocols were not followed and restricted areas were entered during a birthday party for an airline employee.

 

Qualicum Beach has reported the incident to Transport Canada, Arnold Schwabe, town operations manager, said Tuesday.

 

The notice said the town had received information that Oceanside Air had breached regulations and conditions of its lease during a celebration at the airport terminal on the evening of Nov. 11.

 

“The video footage showed Oceanside Air owners and staff in the airport terminal, over a 90-minute period, unmasked and with open alcohol. Oceanside Air did not have a liquor permit and the video footage clearly displayed open alcohol outside of their leased space, including in restricted areas of the airport, in the public terminal, and in the parking lot,” the town’s posting states.

 

“On the same day, Council and staff received correspondence from Oceanside Air indicating that the celebration was confined to the leased space only, and consisted of birthday cake and beer.

 

“The 90-minute CCTV video footage directly contradicts those statements,” the town said.

 

Town council considered the situation on Dec. 1 and contemplated a range of options, the notice said. It decided to cancel the lease inside the terminal, but allow the airline to continue to operate charter flights.

 

Qualicum Beach Mayor Brian Wiese said he would like Oceanside Air to take ownership and be clear about what happened on Nov. 11.

 

Jim Novak, one of the Oceanside Air owners, launched an online petition calling on the town to reinstate its lease.

 

By early Tuesday evening, the petition had 751 names in support. The locally owned airline employs 10 pilots and ticket agents, the petition said.

 

The town’s decision was “unfair and not in keeping with the town’s promise to support local businesses and as such, we are requesting that the town reconsider their decision,” Novak’s petition said.

 

Gord Gauvin, spokesman for the Qualicum Beach-Parksville Aerospace Industry Association, made up of commercial air operators in the region, said the municipality’s lease decision is “dumbfounding.”

 

The after-hours event was held to mark a pilot’s 57th birthday with a cake and some beer, Gauvin said. The lease cancellation is “essentially going to close down their business.”

 

More: https://www.timescol...flouted-4865885

 

 

[todd]

“Cancer warning labels will go on alcohol bottles in Ireland — a world first”: https://globalnews.c...el-alcohol/amp/


Apparently Ireland isn’t a neutral country anymore.

[Victoria Watcher]

A downtown Victoria bar and restaurant that has had a clean record with the B.C. Liquor and Cannabis Regulation Branch since it opened 10 years ago has been fined $7,000 for serving alcohol to a minor.

 

In a recent branch decision, Little Jumbo Restaurant and Bar at 506 Fort St. was disciplined for the infraction despite it being a first offence. Little Jumbo could have been fined as much as $11,000, according to the decision, and/or had its licence suspended from seven to 11 days.

 

The decision said the licensee, Little Jumbo, admitted it had served a minor alcohol on March 24, 2023, but was using a defence of “due diligence” through its staff training and business structure. That defence, however, was rejected.

 

“The licensee noted that this whole experience has been a humbling, humiliating and distressing experience for all staff concerned,” read the decision.

 

On the date in question, a branch inspector was conducting what is known as a minors as agents program (MAP) inspection. The branch hires minors aged 16 to 18 years old to help carry out the inspection.

 

The inspector arrived first at 5:03 p.m., said the decision, and sat down in Little Jumbo, a popular fine dining restaurant and bar. The minor agent, who is 17 years old, then came in and was sat at the bar by the restaurant’s host.

 

 

 

https://www.vicnews....-a-beer-6842574

[Mike K.]

So does the minor drink the beverage, to keep the ruse up?

[Victoria Watcher]

So does the minor drink the beverage, to keep the ruse up?

 

No, in the article it says no.

 

This is borderline entrapment.  What a waste of time.

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 08 November 2023 - 06:52 AM.

[Nparker]

I presume if a minor says they identify as an alcoholic in school, the teaching staff will encourage it?

[Victoria Watcher]

No, in the article it says no.

 

This is borderline entrapment.  What a waste of time.

 

You'd probably have to watch Little Jumbo for several years before you found a minor going to the bar alone to try to buy a drink.  So instead, the government just sends in a minor on their own payroll.

[Mike K.]

Is this randomly targeted, or is there more to it?

[Matt R.]

Random.

[spanky123]

No, in the article it says no.

 

This is borderline entrapment.  What a waste of time.

 

It is not entrapment, if you are in the biz then you know how it works. Minors are used to test bars, pot and tobacco shops as well. They are told to act normally and to place an order. They don't try to encourage someone to break the law. If they are refused they just walk out.

[Ismo07]

It is not entrapment, if you are in the biz then you know how it works. Minors are used to test bars, pot and tobacco shops as well. They are told to act normally and to place an order. They don't try to encourage someone to break the law. If they are refused they just walk out.

 

Should at least order a soda and leave a good tip...

[todd]

Vancouver- legal liquor public consumption area. With my meal, purchased from a nearby eatery.

Edited by todd, 11 November 2023 - 08:07 AM.