Posted Feb 5, 2018
VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) – As the provincial government lays out its plans for pot regulation come legalization this July, unionized workers say they’re disappointed sales won’t be allowed inside liquor stores — yet.
Paul Finch with the British Columbia Government and Service Employees’ Union says research has been done suggesting it’s perfectly safe to sell liquor and marijuana in the same place, but he understands the need to keep it out of the hands of anyone under 19.
“I think we also want to keep alcohol away from children as much as we can,” he tells NEWS 1130. “Age appropriate, safe, controlled environment’s are a great way to do that. We want to stress the need for evidence-based policy, but again, we respect the government’s caution on this and their desire to approach the new retail market slowly.”
However, he’s holding out hope that’s still possible once concerns are addressed. “We understand this is a newly emerging market for them and they’re proceeding with some degree of caution. We hope that those principles and –in particular– the age-appropriate, safe, controlled environments that we provide, the tested track record in BC’s liquor stores will be seen to be an appropriate model and in the meantime, we hope there is some hope that adjacent stores providing that same model of liquor stores will be able to provide that retail service.”
