Of all the reasons to call in the cops, buying beer in one province and taking to another has to be one of the most important, as this story shows:
"Our intelligence gathering revealed that we believe there was a large quantity of alcohol being brought in to the province from other provinces, and obviously that's a loss of revenue for the province," he said. In Fermont, a case of 24 bottles of beer costs about $29. In Labrador City, the same case is almost $45. The liquor corporation said it's working with the police on the problem. Royal Newfoundland Constabulary officers will patrol the highway to stop offenders. "Liquor or beer can be confiscated, as well as the vehicle," said Cst. Bill Fitzgerald.
Imagine being the cop detailed to confiscate a rural neighbour's vehicle over a 16 buck difference in the cost of beer. I have actually experienced this. When I lived in Canada's oddest province, Prince Edward Island, a pal visiting was stopped after crossing the bridge and his car got searched. After counting heads of passengers and beers, they were told to go on as they were fine. Police and government officials even ran ads about "smuggling" that mystified me before this event until I realized it was referring to shopping in another nearby part of the same country. Craziest of all, there is no mechanism by which you can pay at the "border" when you cross from one province to another.
This sort of thing makes me embarrassed to be Canadian.
Comments
Garth - May 13, 2011 11:42 PM
I'm surprised there is not Canadian equivalent to the Commerce Clause like in the US Constitution. I've always assumed the Commerse Clause was one of the things that held the US together. Perhaps I'm wrong. More on point, who would pay $45 for a 24 pack?! (assuming it's Molson or something).
Ed Carson - May 14, 2011 8:07 AM
Except the Commerce clause does not apply to alcoholic beverages. "Amendment 21:Section 2. The transportation or importation into any State, Territory, or possession of the United States for delivery or use therein of intoxicating liquors, in violation of the laws thereof, is hereby prohibited."
Craig - May 14, 2011 9:37 AM
Huh whaaa? I was going to try and post something witty, but the whole situation has me at a loss of words.
Pok - May 14, 2011 10:34 AM
I'm with Craig. Canadian confederation - none of us is as dumb as all of us.
Peter Bailey - May 15, 2011 11:46 PM
Apropos, you saw Terry David Mulligan's cross-border (BC > Alberta) law-flouting on Friday? He had one bottle of beer with him, in addtion to bottles of wine. "B.C. Broadcaster Challenges Canadian Wine Law" | Wine Access http://bit.ly/lEErVq
Mark - May 16, 2011 2:47 PM
The only legal way you can "import" liquor from another province is to have your province's liquor control board import it on your behalf. This also ensures that your home province collects the various taxes and import duties from you the consumer, in addition to the various taxes and import duties that have already been included in the source province. Tax upon tax - it is the Canadian way!
Eric - May 18, 2011 10:50 AM
Ridiculous. I live in Quebec and we have a pretty terrible selection at the SAQ overall, I sometimes make the trip to a nearby LCBO to pick up beers of a much wider variety. I'm not quite sure what I'd do if someone pulled me over and tried to confiscate my ontario beers....
perlhaqr - May 18, 2011 11:26 AM
Hey look! Highway robbery!