Time to Sell NB Liquor

Given the recent news NB Liquor is going into the beer production business with Moosehead Breweries of Saint John, now would be a good time to discuss the benefits of privatization.

The government's terribly run liquor monopoly normally trots out the lie that without them, funding for education and health care in New Brunswick would be jeopardized. They have now enlisted Joel Levesque of Moosehead to help them spread this nonsense, and shame on Moosehead for this.

With a long and storied history, Moosehead is a New Brunswick success story. However, current company leadership has become so beholden to the government of New Brunswick that they have forgotten their customers.

Instead of using their considerable political influence to fight for a reasonable mark-up on beer in New Brunswick, they have taken it upon themselves to propagate the lie that high beer prices and a liquor monopoly fund health care and education in New Brunswick.

I used to think NB Liquor was the worst run government liquor distributor/retailer in the free world, but evidently they heard some jurisdiction in newly-freed Kazakhstan was going to be even worse, so they took this department to new levels of ludicrosity. I know ludicrosity is not a word, but it seems to fit the situation.

Disclaimer*
Contrary to popular belief, staff at NB Liquor stores and head office are not to blame for the sorry state of affairs. They know how bad it is first hand. Most employees at NB Liquor are good people struggling to make a living, just like the rest of us. This article is not aimed at them. It is aimed at our political leaders and their patronage appointments that make the idiotic decisions there.


There used to be three reasons why the government of New Brunswick needed to be in the booze distribution/retailing business:
1. Control
2. Money
3. Patronage

This article will deal with the first two so you can then call your MLA and they will deal with the third once and for all.

1. Many years ago, the good people of New Brunswick were very scared of alcohol and thought government controlling the distribution and retailing of it would lead to limits on the spread of it through society.

ANBL has succeeded in limiting the spread of reasonable prices and good selection, but beer, wine and spirits are now everywhere, so this has failed. Evidently overcharging and providing crappy selection will not stop man's lust for a pint, glass or dram, so we do not need NB Liquor control.

2. Many years ago, the good people of New Brunswick realized that the government controlling the distribution and retailing of alcoholic beverages would raise a great deal of money.

They were correct.

Now government could sell off licenses to real businesses and still tax the product (less abusively hopefully) and still make more money than currently (see Alberta example if you do not believe me). So, if it really is about money so the children can learn and be healthy as NB Liquor and Moosehead say, privatization is the answer. Tell your friends you support it for the children.

3. We are left with patronage, now the only real reason to keep NB Liquor. Where else do you put washed up campaign managers, Party Executive Directors and Chief's of Staff to Premiers? Why the presidency of NB Liquor would be great! There they can travel the world, visit wineries, eat great meals in exotic locales and press the flesh with the elite of the world.

Now to be honest, if I had any real shot at the presidency of NB Liquor, I too would want to keep it a government monopoly. But alas, I will never get to spend my time hanging out with famous wine makers in Italy, France, Australia or Chile, or cool movie stars like Dan Akroyd and salmon-fishing-pros like Lorne Michaels.

But in the real world, selling ANBL is the only solution. It will work for consumers, health care, education and small business.

The only losers will be the current crop of political organizers that will miss their shot at the cushiest of government appointments (short of a Senate seat).

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