Government sets minimum drink prices to make bars safer

The practice of cutting drink prices may soon be a thing of the past in Alberta as the government introduces minimum drink prices.

Starting on August 1, an ounce of liquor at a bar in Alberta will cost a minimum of $2.75, the same minimum price for a 12 ounce bottle of beer, cider or cooler. Wine will cost 35 cents per ounce, and a draught beer will be 16 cents per ounce. According to a release, the goal of the new regulation is to make drinking establishments safer.

“These changes reflect this government’s intention to improve safety in and around licensed premises,” said Fred Lindsay, Solicitor General and Minister of Public Security. “They are not meant to interfere with responsible patrons - they are designed to limit the liquor consumption of those drinkers who don’t wish to set their own limits.”

According to Peter Pappas, owner of the Octane Nightclub in Drumheller, he has no problem with the regulations. He is suspect however, of the claim the regulations will actually make places safer.

After 56 years, a Drumheller man made his way back to the place he was born.

Bernie Fournier was born and raised in Switzerland. This summer he travelled back with his sister to the place of his birth, one that his father left when Bernie was just 12.

“I thought it would be good to go back again and visit relatives,” was his simple answer when asked his motivation.

Last November, he and his sister booked their tickets to travel back to a small village called Beuson in a valley called Nendaz, in a French area of the countryside. They left on June 16 and Bernie returned to the valley on July 7.