A report in the Winnipeg Free Press late last week reveals that the Manitoba government is going to amend its liquor control act to loosen a number of its restrictions on the production and sale of alcohol. From my reading, the changes are a mixture of catching up with other jurisdictions, trying to better promote local breweries, tackling the growing high alcohol energy drink problem, and political maneouvres to be seen as tough on binge drinking.

The best of the list (from my perspective) are commitments to facilitate brewpubs (through allowing off-sales), initiatives to make microbreweries more competitive and a pilot project of boutique outlets in grocery stores and other locations that will promote Manitoban and Canadian products. They also want to tackle the use of energy drinks as mixes for alcohol, which is a dangerous combination. There is a long list of other stuff, including allowing patrons to bring their own wine to restaurants, but most of it seems either fairly cosmetic or aimed at issues that won’t affect beer lovers in the province.

Some are arguing that the changes are inadequate – these are mostly those who are looking for a fully private option to the government liquor board. Personally I am encouraged by the moves. Only time will tell what effect they will have, but my hope is that over the next few years the results of this chage is the growth of Half Pints, maybe a couple of brewpubs and maybe even another legitimate micro in the province.

I continue to be of the opinion that the best alcohol set-up would be a government board motivated by a commitment to promote local products and possessing an openness to consumer-driven choice. This would put a broader range of beer shelves but contain prices AND it would privilege local brewers (and winemakers) by giving them priority in stores. Specialty boutiques, like what Manitoba is doing, could enhance access to rare and specialty products of interest to a smaller segment of the market. Possible, just possibly, Manitoba may be taking the first steps in that direction.

However, only time will tell.