In Alberta,¹ a law has been proposed that places going to a bar on a different level of activity from other common activity as it will allow bar owners to collect, store and trade personal information about the folk who pop by for a beer. It is aimed at gang members but fails to notice that most people in taverns are not criminals:

...privacy advocates say the bill will likely do little to combat gang violence in bars. Frank Work, Alberta's privacy commissioner, said the legislation is more likely to create an ever-expanding list of "jerks and idiots" who are blacklisted from Alberta bars for poor decisions while intoxicated. Those who get a little too drunk and rowdy, vomit on the table or forget to pay their tab could find themselves blacklisted from multiple bars, with no way to clear their names. "Maybe he is on the list because he is a super bad guy, or maybe he's on the list because he becomes a wiener after having a couple of drinks," Mr. Work said.

So, if your name gets on this list and gets passed around that tight and principled circle of wizards called bar owners, how long before that list gets used for other purposes by people risk managing their decision making like insurers or maybe organizations which take on volunteers? And, if this is a system aimed at crime detection, it is subject to the same procedural rights other forms of investigation have to respect? Do they even have keep records proving or just explaining why you are on the list? And do the folks at the Dew Drop Inn on the south side of Main Street use the same standards for blacklisting that the Crazy Horse across the way does?

Wouldn't it make sense to also take names at, you know, bike repair shops if you are looking at the biker gangs? They likely buy coffee or have family who attend church so name taking at Tim's² or at the pew would be handy, too.

¹[Ed.: I don't often cross post but yesterday my two worlds overlapped for a brief shining moment.]
²[Ed.: you aren't Canadian if you have to ask.]