Only in B.C. could the provincial government introduce a happy hour that only serves to make people unhappy.
When the B.C. Liberal government announced plans to liberalize alcohol laws, one of the moves was to create a happy hour as British Columbia was one of the only jurisdictions in North America without one.
Any other province or state in North America uses happy hour to discount the cost of drinks and food during traditionally slower time periods of the day.
The theory is a cheaper pint to go with a cheeseburger will bring in customers who otherwise might not walk through the door.
In B.C., however, Premier Christy Clark and John Yap, parliamentary secretary for liquor policy reform, managed to hike the cost of booze – not only during happy hour, but all day long.
Some have called the pair incompetent, while others have suggested a tax grab (government will realize more tax revenue from higher prices) or a plan to appease larger bars who support the B.C. Liberals.
By introducing the new minimum pricing – which sets a pint of beer at $5 – the theory goes, some smaller venues that were offering pints for less will now have to compete with bigger chains by offering identical prices.
Whether incompetent or devious, the B.C. Liberals’ happy hour is a horror.
It takes more money from the taxpayer and puts more money in government coffers.
And this from an party that professes to allow the market set the price.
-Kamloops This Week
