Re: Booze sold in grocery stores could drive up consumption (News, Dec. 4)
“Could” does not mean “will.” In the context of this story, the use of the word is almost a pejorative.
Worse are the comments of Tim Stockwell, director of UVIC’s Centre for Addictions Research of B.C.: it’s a “doomsday scenario” and “skyrocketing deaths and liver disease … could potentially [occur here].”
There’s that word, again – “could.” Having spent three of the past six months in Japan, where even convenience stores sell the stuff, I take issue with such specious speculations.
Grocery and convenience stores there do not discount alcoholic beverages to draw customers, nor do they raise the prices of food to cover any such (imaginary) discount.
It’s time we grew up a bit, here in B.C.
Lorne Peasland
Saanich
