Do these beer-drinking Folkies look like they are getting out of hand?

Today in the Edmonton Journal, a story appeared where the Producer of the Edmonton Folk Music Festival is calling for more flexibility in the application of liquor laws to special events like the Folk Fest. You can read the story here.

The issue behind the request is fairly specific – the Edmonton festival is notorious for long line-ups at its beer tent, especially on sunny afternoons and early evenings. However, it highlights a growing issue around the rules regulating the sale and consumption of liquor. Most provinces (Quebec might be the exception) have restrictive and, at times, bizarre regulations around alcohol consumption. Most of these rules are vestiges of the post-prohibition period when the compromise for becoming  “wet” again was to strictly manage when and how alcohol was purchased (there is a reason they were called “liquor control” commissions).

The Folk Fest’s main problem is that the demand for beer on-site outstrips their capacity to supply. Volunteer staffing and security demands restrict just how big the beer tent can be and make it difficult to open a second spot. Theoretically an all-site license is possible but as the Journal article points out for the Folk Fest it would require 400-450 security staff at all times, which stretches their volunteer and financial capacity.

I will fully admit to having skin in the game on this one, being a longtime avid Folk Fest attendee. I just waited for four hours on Saturday at Telus Field to secure my weekend passes, and I am not a stranger to the beer tent.

Personally I can attest to the strategic decisions one must make to procure a beer at the Fest, none of which are particularly consistent with moderate imbibing. I often intentionally hit the beer tent earlier than I might otherwise plan to beat the rush time periods. And I also have experienced that moment of decision – go see that band I really want to hear or stay for one more beer because I know I am not getting back in.

The issues at the Folk Fest are only the tip of the iceberg. There are many ways the rules unnecessarily restrict responsible consumption of alcohol, especially beer. Here are just a few examples off the top of my head: differential licensing for minors-allowed premises which dampens the potential for family-friendly events with alcohol; strict hours of sale rules (from 10am-2am); banning of alcohol for events like neighbourhood block parties; prohibition of homebrewed beer or wine at a private event (really, they still do that). There are also just plain strange rules, such as mud wrestling is a banned entertainment, but Sumo wrestling is okay. Wet t-shirt/wet boxer short (do people do that??) are okay sometimes but not others. Volleyball is prohibited when minors are present, but darts are okay at all times. There are also a myriad of rules around nude entertainment that seem to have nothing to do with alcohol consumption.

I imagine people working in the industry have a much longer list of frustations.

These rules are not just an Alberta problem. Every jurisdiction in the country has a long set of rules telling alcohol purveyors and patrons how and when to serve their product. And don’t get me wrong, here. Most of the rules are reasonable, necessary and help maintain public health and safety. I want strong rules around serving alcohol to minors, establishment of minimum prices and various other controls. But when I read about the Folk Fest’s frustration to satisfy its predominantly peaceful, laid-back, kid-senstive crowd, it is hard not to get a bit frustrated.

I will acknowledge the AGLC recently eliminated one of their sillier rules. Previously so-called Happy Hours were restricted to before 8pm. Price discounts were not allowed after that time. They have removed that restriction allowing establishments to decide when they want to offer a price discount on their product. A small point, but you can see how it gets in the way of people running their pubs in a way that reflects their client base.

A review of alcohol license rules is overdue, but I appreciate given the economy, Fort McMurray and the various of other REAL issues facing the Alberta government, it won’t happen anytime soon. So then how about this as stop-gap measure. Empoower the AGLC to vary any of its regulations if it deems the situation warrants. That way they can treat the Folk Festival differently than a Frat House Year-End Bash. If the request is reasonable and the applicant can demonstrate public safety will not be affected, why not allow for a variance?

But maybe that is too simple a solution