History of Liquor Regulation in Manitoba-1

7/30/2019 History of Liquor Regulation in Manitoba-1

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HistoryofLiquorRegulationinManitoba

Aswebrowsethroughtheselectionatourfavouriteliquorstore,itcanbehardtobelievehow

muchourlawshavechangedduringthepastcentury.

Just40

years

ago,

buying

liquor

meant

lining

up

at

acounter

so

aclerk

could

retrieve

the

bottlesfromthebackroom.Everytimeweordered,wehadtofilloutaformwithallsortsof

personalinformationsoourpurchasescouldbetracked.

ManyManitobanscanrecallearliertimes,whenwomenwerentallowedtodrinkinthesame

barroomasmenorevencarrybeerfromastorageroomtostocktheshelves.Afewremember

thebriefageofProhibitionwhenmostpeoplecouldpurchaseliquoronlyformedicinal

purposesandwhenillegalspeakeasiesflourished.

Overthecourseof350years,muchhaschangedinthewaywebuy,sell,consumeandregulate

alcoholjustasourownsocietalattitudeshaveevolved.

Hereisabriefhistoryofourliquorlaws,fromtheroughandtumbleeraofthefurtradetothe

presentday.

TamingtheFurTrade

Liquorisanimportantfactorinthefurtrade.Earlyliquorlawsaremostlyanattempttocontrol

theviolence

erupting

around

trading

posts.

1657 ThefirstCanadianliquorlawsareintroduced.Until1870,theHudsonsBay

CompanycontrolsthesaleofliquorthroughitsoutpostsandtheBoardofLiquor

ControlCommissioners.Liquorismainlyavailablethroughahandfuloflicensed

hotels,clubsandsaloons.Lawsprohibitliquorfrombeingtradedorgivento

Aboriginals.

TheLong

Campaign

for

Prohibition

Inthelate19th

century,theTemperanceMovementexertspressuretobanalcohol(Prohibition).

Amidtheemotionallychargeddebate,thefederalgovernmentshiftsdecisionmakingtothe

provinces.


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1878 TheCanadaTemperanceActgivesprovincesthepowertobanthesaleofalcoholifsupportedbyamajorityvote.Morethan20yearspassbeforeanyprovinceuses

thispower.

Manitobasfirstprovincialliquorcommissionisestablishedthesameyear.The

commissionallowsonebarforevery300peopleintheprovince.

1883 Provincesgaintheabilitytocontrolthesaleofliquorthroughfederallegislation

thatallowsprovincestograntlicencestohotelsandsaloons,shops,wholesalers

andmastersofvessels.

1892 ManitobaisthefirstprovincetoholdareferendumonProhibition.Manitobans

voteinfavouroftheban,butthelegislationisneverputintoeffect.In1899,the

majorityonceagainsupportProhibitionbutthevoteislaternullifiedbecauseoflow

turnout.

1916 ProhibitioncomestoManitoba.MonthsafterManitobawomengaintherightto

vote,athirdprovincialreferendumisheld.Everyconstituencybutonevotesin

favourofProhibition.TheManitobaTemperanceActcomesintoeffect,andforthe

nextsevenyears:

Liquorcanbepurchasedonlythroughgovernmentdispensariesandonlyforusesthatareindustrial,scientific,mechanical,artistic,sacramentalormedicinal.

Alllegaldrinkingestablishmentsareclosed. Alcoholcanbeconsumedonlyinaprivatedwelling. Distillersandbrewerscanbelicensedtomanufacturealcohol,butsalesare

permittedonlyoutsideoftheprovince.

Manitobanssoonfindwaystoskirtthelaw.Illegalspeakeasiesandbootleggers

flourish.Doctorsprescriptionsformedicinalpurposesarewidelyabusedas

evidencedbythelonglineupsatpharmaciesduringtheDecemberholidayseason.

ProhibitionEndsandNewLiquorLawsEmerge

Manitobasbanonalcoholdoesntlastlong.In1921,justfiveyearsafterProhibitionwas

declared,amajorityvoteallowsthesaleofalcoholinManitobathroughaprovincial

governmentagency.Twoyearslater,Manitobaintroducesnewlawsthatcontrol


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manufacturing,distributionandsaleofliquor.Asidefromminortinkering,theselawsremainin

effectforthreedecades.

1923 TheGovernmentLiquorControlActintroducesstrictregulationsforpricing,advertising,salesquotasandpersonalpurchasinglimits:

WineandbeercanbesoldthroughgovernmentcontrolledliquorstorestoeligibleManitobansholdinggovernmentissuedpermits.Theseproductscanbe

consumedonlyatthelocationdescribedonthepermit.

Liquormustbeconsumedathome. Beercanbesoldbylocalbreweriesandbylicensedbeerparloursoflicensed

hotels.Individualscanpurchasenomorethan24quartsofbeeraweekor72

quartsamonth.

Liquorandwinecantbetransportedbutcanbedeliveredtoahomeresidencefor

an

additional

fee

of

25

cents

per

bottle.

Manitobaistheonlyprovincetokeeprecordsofallliquorsalesandpurchases,includingname,addressandthetypeandquantityofliquorpurchased.This

informationisavailabletolawenforcementandsocialwelfareauthoritieson

request.

Peoplecanbebannedfrombuyingliquorontheauthorityofthepolicemagistrateortwojusticesofthepeace.

Liquorcanbemanufacturedbylicensedindividuals.The

Liquor

Control

Commission

(LCC)

of

Manitoba

is

created

to

oversee

all

aspects

ofliquorbuying,sellingandservice.TheLCCplaysamoreactiveroleinregulation

thanthepreviousbody.

1928 LiquorlawsarefinetunedthroughamendmentstotheAct.Beerparlourscannow

belicensedtosellbeerbytheglass.However,allrulesarestrictlyprescribedinan

attempttoestablishamoralandrespectablepublicspacefordrinking.

Beerparloursarepurelyforthebusinessofdrinkingnotforpleasureor

entertainment. Therecanbenofood,standing,singing,dancing,musical

instruments,gambling

or

games

of

any

kind.

Business

must

be

conducted

on

acash

onlybasisnocreditorcheques.

Mixeddrinkingisforbidden.Womencanholdliquorpermitsandenterbeer

parlours,butcantoccupythesamespaceasmen.Ifahotelwantstoserveboth

menandwomen,itmusthaveaseparatebeerparlourforeachsex,withseparate

entrancesforeachandnocommunicationbetweenthetwospaces.Womenare


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alsoforbiddenfromsellingorhandlingbeerinabeerparlour.Aboriginalsand

peopleunder21arenotallowedonthepremises.

ManitobasonlywomensbeerparlouropensatWinnipegBeachin1928,butis

shutdownafterafewhoursbecauseithasnotobtainedthenecessarylicence.

TheLiquorControlLicensingBoard(theBoard)isestablishedtocontrolwhich

establishmentswillbegrantedpermitstosellorservebeer.TheBoardworkswith

theLCCaspartofalargergovernmentsponsoredagency.Thefollowingyear,the

OfficeoftheChiefInspectoriscreatedtoenforceliquorlaws.

1934 BeervendorsappearinManitoba.Hotelscannowbecomelicensedtosellbeerforoffsiteconsumption.

1936 PricingfavoursmadeinManitobabeer.Abottleofbeermanufacturedoutside

Manitobamustbesoldforfivecentsmorethanlocallyproducedbeer.

1942 Enforcementmovestopolice.TheRCMPandWinnipegPoliceMoralityDepartmentagreetoassumeresponsibilityforliquorlawenforcementinreturnforpayment.

TheOfficeoftheChiefInspectorisdownsized.

1943 BeerrationingisintroducedduringWorldWarII.Rationingremainsineffectuntil

1948.

1950 Steinbachremainsdry.WhenmostofManitobaendedProhibitiondecadesearlier,Steinbachdidnot.In1950,thepeopleofSteinbachvotetocontinuethebanagainst

allliquorsalesintheircommunity.

LawsEvolvewithChangingPublicAttitudes

AfterWorldWarI,Manitobansattitudestowardalcoholbegintorelax.Bythe1950sthepublic

isreadyforamajoroverhaulofManitobasliquorlaws,includinganewapproachtoselling

alcohol.

1955 Aprovincialreviewcommitteerecommendsliquorlawsbemodernized.Ledby

formerpremierJohnBracken(BrackenReport),thecommitteeadvocatesastronger

emphasisonselfcontrolandmoreequaltreatmentofallManitobansover21,

includingwomenandAboriginals.


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InresponsetotheBrackenReport,thenewLiquorControlActisbroughtforward

andispassedintolawthefollowingyear.TheActisamendedrepeatedlyoverthe

nextsixdecadesbutmostofthebasicprovisionsremain.

1956 Anewliquorvendingsystemisestablished.WhenTheLiquorControlActcomesintoeffect,Manitobansnolongerneedtoapplyforapermittobuyalcohol.Instead,

theyvisitagovernmentliquorstoreandcompleteanorderform.Theylisttheir

name,address,andthetypeandquantityofliquorpurchasedsoallsalescanbe

tracked.Theythenpresenttheformtoaclerk,whoretrievestheorderfromaback

room.

Allowablehoursforsellingliquorareextended.Sellingandservinghoursare

extendedseveralmoretimesoverthenext55years.

Sunday

serving

is

permitted

for

the

first

time.

Golf

and

curling

clubs

are

the

first

to

beabletoserveliquoronSundays.Thischangemarksthestartofseveral

amendmentsrelatedtoSundayhours.

Beerparloursarenowrequiredtoservefoodandnonalcoholicbeverages.They

mustalsocloseduringthesupperhour.

Liquorstillcantbeadvertised.Adsfortobaccoabound,butbeer,wineandliquor

cantbepromotedtothepublic.

1957 Mixedgenderdrinkingisallowedincocktaillounges,beverageroomsand

restaurants.

1960 Aboriginalpeoplecanpurchaseliquorforoffpremisesconsumption.However,

theyarestillunabletoconsumeliquorinlicensedestablishments,andsalesarenot

allowedonreserves.

Manitobabeginsextendinghoursofserviceforbeerparlours,vendorsand

beveragerooms.Hoursgraduallybecomelongerandmoreflexiblethrough

frequentamendmentstothelawoverthenext51years.

1961 Onvotingdays,liquorstoresandlicensedpremisescanremainopen,exceptduringfederalandprovincialelections.In1966,thegovernmentallowslicensed

premisesandliquorstorestobeopenandoccasionalpermitstobeissuedafterthe

pollscloseonprovincialelectiondays.


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LicensedPremisesBecomeMorethanPlacestoDrink

Intheswinging60s,barsandsupperclubsstarttoevolveintoplacesofentertainmentforboth

menandwomen.

1962 Dancinganddrinkingareallowedforthefirsttime.Fora$10fee,alicenseddiningroomcanobtainapermittodance.

1965 Gamesarepermittedforthefirsttime.Barsareallowedtoaddgameslikedarts

andshuffleboard,addingtheairofanEnglishpubtomanyestablishments.

Hotelswithlicenseddiningroomscanserveliquortoguestsintheirrooms.

1966 Aircraftcanserveliquor.Aircraftcannowobtainadiningroomlicence.By1980,air

carrierswill

be

able

to

open

licensed

hospitality

lounges

at

the

airport.

1967 Liquoradvertisingisnowpermittedwithsomerestrictionsonwhenadscanbeaired.

Homewinemakingisallowed.AhobbypractisedbysomeManitobansformany

yearsnowbecomeslegal.

1968 Nomorelimitsonindividualpurchasesofliquor.Manitobanscannowbuy

unlimitedquantitiesatonetime.

TheAgeofSocialReform

Theprogressive1970sbringgreaterequalityofaccessandanendtothepracticeoftracking

individualsliquorpurchases.

1970 Thelegaldrinkingageisloweredto18.Manitobabecomesoneofthefirst

provincestoreducetheeligibleagetobuyliquorfrom21yearsofage.Duringthe

nextdecade,

all

provinces

will

lower

the

minimum

age

to

18

or

19.

Dancingisallowedinalllicensedestablishments.Venuesmustprovidelivemusic

toqualifyforadancinglicence.In1979,Manitobabeginsgraduallyliftingthis

restrictiontoallowforrecordedmusic.


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Selfserveliquorstoresopen.TheManitobaLiquorControlCommission(MLCC)introducesmodernretailstoresthatevolveintotheLiquorMartsweknowtoday.

Manitobansnolongerneedtowritedownordersandpersonalinformationona

pieceofpapersothataclerkcanretrievetheproductfromtheback,andthereis

nomoretrackingofindividualliquorsales.Ittakesaboutadecadetoconvertall

storestothenewsystem.

1971 MLCChiresthefirstwomentoworkinliquorstores.

Liquorcanbeconsumedinanexpandedrangeofvenues.Newtypesoflicences

areintroducedsoalcoholcanbeconsumedinliveperformancetheatres,sporting

venuesandexcursionboats,andatcommunityeventslikefairs,exhibitionsand

tournaments.Therearealsofewerrestrictionsondiningroomandcocktaillounge

licensing.

Juvenilescanconsumealcoholunderparentalorspousalsupervision.Inaclub,

restaurant,diningroomorcabaret,liquorcanbeconsumedbysomeoneunder18if

itisboughtforhim/herbyaparentorspouseandconsumedwithamealintheir

presence.

1972 Liquorsalesareallowedonreservesprovidingthebandhasissuedaproclamation

permittingconsumptionofliquoronthereserve.

1975 Womenarepermittedtohandle,serveandsellbeerinabeerparlour.

Manitobabeginsestablishingdutyfreeliquorstores.Thefirstisestablishedat

WinnipegInternationalAirport.Dutyfreestoresareaddedatgroundcrossingsof

theManitobaU.S.borderin1982.

MLCCbecomesthefirstliquoragencyinCanadatolaunchamarketingcampaign.

1977 Certainsubstancescontainingalcoholaredesignatedasnonpotableintoxicantsinresponsetogrowingabuseproblems.

Waitersand

waitresses

no

longer

need

to

be

licensed

by

MLCC.

GreaterEmphasisonPersonalResponsibility


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Increasingpermissivenessinliquorlawsisbalancedbyotherlawsimposingtougherpenalties

forabuseofalcohol,includingdrivingwhileimpaired.Individualsareexpectedtotakemore

personalresponsibilityfortheconsequencesofconsuming,servingandsellingliquor.

1979 Patronsareallowedtostandupwhiledrinking.

1980 IndividualscanbringalcoholintoManitobafromotherprovinces.Theynolonger

needtoleaveliquorattheborderwhenenteringManitoba.

Sundayandholidayliquorservicecontinuestoexpand.Beverageandcocktail

roomscanserveliquoronSundays,ThanksgivingandChristmasDay,butonlywith

meals.

1982 MLCCseeksgreaterunderstandingoflawsbyoperators.TheLicenseeFieldManual

isdeveloped

and

distributed

to

help

licensees

and

their

employees

understand

and

complywiththeirrequirementsandresponsibilitiesconcerningdaytoday

operations.

Licenseerequirementsbecomesimplerandmorepragmatic.Beerparlourscanset

theirownbeerprices.Licenseescandispenseliquorinformsotherthantheoriginal

container.Allformsoflicensedestablishmentshavemorelatitudetosettheirown

hourswithinspecifiedguidelines.MLCCnolongerneedstoapproveallfoodand

liquormenus.

Freesamples

can

be

provided

at

special

functions

approved

by

MLCC.

1983 MLCCintroducesphotoIDcards.Manitobans18andovercannowobtainphoto

identificationcardsthroughMLCCforuseasproofofage.

1984 Peoplewithoutcitizenshipcanapplyforliquorlicences.ThischangeendsdiscriminationwithinthelicensingsystemagainstpeoplewhoarenotCanadian

citizens.

Beverageroomsandbeerparloursnolongerneedtocloseduringthesupper

hour.

Liquorsalescanbeupto60%ofrevenuesinlicenseddiningrooms,cocktailrooms

andrestaurants.

1985 Aboriginalpeoplecanconsumeliquor,bothonandoffreserveasManitobaacts

onprovisionsputinplacebythefederalgovernmentin1951.


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Beerparlourscansellspiritsandwineinadditiontobeer.

Gamesofchancearepermittedinlicensedestablishments.

Liquorcanbeservedonanytypeofelectionday,includingfederalandprovincial

elections.

1987 Thelegaldefinitionofliquorchanges.Inresponsetonewproductsappearingin

themarketplace,liquorisnowdefinedinlegislationasanypotablesubstance

containingmorethan1percentalcoholbyvolume.

Licenceclassesarestreamlined.Thenumberofclassesisreducedfrom24to11.

1988 Beerandwineadvertisementscanairatanytimeofday.Thereisnolongera

restrictionbetween7:00a.m.and10:00p.m.

LicenseesgaintherighttodemandphotoIDwithproofandage.Theycanalso

ejectanyonewhodoesnotcomply.

1993 Tougherlawscomeintoeffectforabusesofbuyingandselling.Itbecomesamajor

offencetosellliquortoanintoxicatedpersonoranyoneunder18,ortobuyliquorif

under18.

Vendorshavemorepriceandproductoptions.Theycannowsellimportedbeer,as

wellasdomestic.Theyarenolongerrequiredtocarrybeerfromeachbreweryin

theprovince,

and

can

charge

different

prices

for

different

domestic

beers.

They

can

alsoconductbeersampling.

1994 Privatelyownedwinestoresareintroduced.Alimitednumberofstoresare

licensed.Regulationssetoutdetailssuchasthenumberandtypeofstores,

discountstructure,annualfeesandgeneralrulesofoperation.

GovernmentissuedphotoIDbecomestheonlyacceptableproofofage.

MLCCcontinuestosharpenitsfocus.TheMLCCnolongersetsthestandardsfor

sanitation,cuisine

and

tourist

accommodations

for

licensed

premises.

2001 Minimumdrinkpricingcomesintoeffect.Licensedpremisesandoccasionalpermit

holdersmustchargeaminimumof$2.25perdrink.

Mandatorytrainingisintroducedforowners,managersandsales/servicestaff.


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Sundayregulationscontinuetoevolve.AlcoholcanbesoldonSundaysfromnoon

to6p.m.inLiquorMartsandfromnoontomidnightincabarets,beveragerooms

andnonsportprivateclubs.

2004 Promotionsencouragingexcessivedrinkingareoutlawed.Manitobabansallyoucandrinkpromotionsandcontestswherealcoholconsumptionispartofthegame.

2005 Dinerscantakehomeunconsumedwine.Restaurantscanrecorkabottleofwine

thathasbeenservedwithameal,allowingthepatrontotakethebottlehometo

finishatanothertime.

2007 Patronscancarrydrinkstowashroomswithinoradjacenttolicensedpremises.

2009 ManitobasphotoIDsystemisstreamlined.MLCCceasesitsprogramafter

ManitobaPublic

Insurance

introduces

anew

form

of

government

issued

photo

ID

fornondrivers.

ANewVisionforModernization

In2011theManitobagovernmentannouncesplanstocreateasaferandmorewelcoming

environmentforeconomicdevelopmentrelatedtoManitobashospitalitysector.

2011 ManitobasNewHospitalityStrategyisunveiledinMay.TheamendmentstoTheLiquorControlActarepassedintolawonJune16.Thestrategylooksatnew

hospitalityopportunities,publicsafetyimprovements,underagedrinking

countermeasuresandlessredtape.

Extendedhourscomeintoeffect.AsofJuly1,lastcallforalllicensedpremisesis2

a.m.,sevendaysaweek,exceptEasterSunday.Occasionalpermitholderscanstay

openaslongaslicensedpremises.

Strictnewpublicdisorderrulestakeeffect.AlsoasofJuly1,licenseesareheld

responsiblefordisorderaroundtheirpremises,suchasonsidewalksinfrontoftheir

premisesorinnearbyparkinglots.Liquorinspectorsnowhavetherighttoclosea

premiseforupto12hourswhenthereisviolenceorotherimminentrisktothe

public.Finesfordisorderlyconductincreasefrom$292to$655thetoughestin

Canada.


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AlcoholfreeoptionsavailableatLiquorMarts.InOctober,allWinnipegstores

begincarryingzeroalcoholbeer,aswellascoolers,sangriaandwines.Throughan

arrangementwithMothersAgainstDrunkDriving(MADD),salesofcertainproducts

raisefundsforeffortstoreduceimpaireddriving.ThechangesalsoallowLiquor

Martstoselltaxifarecards,barwareandpromotionalmerchandiseforlocalevents.

Bringyourownwineprogramcomesintoeffect.InNovember,Manitobajoins

otherprovincesinallowingpatronstobringtheirownbottleofunopenedwinetoa

restauranttoenjoywithameal.Participatingrestaurantscanchargeacorkagefee.

Preparationsbeginforboutiquestyleliquorstores.MLCCinvitesurbangrocery

storestoexpressinterestinhostingLiquorMartExpressstores.Upto10storesare

plannedforthepilotprogram,includingfiveinurbangrocerystores.Thefirststore

opensatthenewJamesARichardsonInternationalAirportinWinnipegattheend

of

November.

Licensingimprovementsareimplemented.AlsoinNovember,Manitobabegins

offeringanewclassoflicenceforbrewpubs.Inaddition,liquorlicencesarenow

issuedforathreeyearterm,greatlysimplifyingtheprocessforbusinessowners.

2012 NewIDrequirementsandpenaltiescombatunderagedrinking.AsofJanuary1,Manitobaenforcestighterphotoidentificationrequirementsforyoungadults

attemptingtopurchasealcoholorenteranagerestrictedestablishment.Theymust

beabletoshowvalidphotoIDfromManitobaPublicInsurance,apassportortwo

validgovernmentissuedpiecesofID,providedoneisaphotoID.Inaddition,itis

alsoanoffenceforanadulttoprovidetheirIDtoaminorforthepurposeofbuying

liquororaccessingagerestrictedpremises.

Movietheatreallowedtoservealcohol.InJanuary,MLCCamendstheLiquor

LicensingRegulationtoallowamovietheatretoobtainaSpectatorActivities

Licence.

ConstructionbeginsonfirstLiquorMartExpresswithinagrocerystore.The

boutiquestyle

store

in

south

Winnipeg

is

expected

to

open

in

late

2012.

Regulationofliquorandgamingtomergeintooneauthority.TheApril17,2012

ManitobaBudgetannouncesthatliquorregulationwillbecontrolledbythesame

authorityregulatinggaming.TheManitobagovernmentexpectsthenewmodelto

reduceredtapeforManitobabusinessesbybringinginspectionsandother
http://mgcc.mb.ca/forms/backgrounder_reductions.pdfhttp://mgcc.mb.ca/forms/backgrounder_reductions.pdfhttp://mgcc.mb.ca/forms/backgrounder_reductions.pdfhttp://mgcc.mb.ca/forms/backgrounder_reductions.pdfhttp://mgcc.mb.ca/forms/backgrounder_reductions.pdfhttp://mgcc.mb.ca/forms/backgrounder_reductions.pdfhttp://mgcc.mb.ca/forms/backgrounder_reductions.pdfhttp://mgcc.mb.ca/forms/backgrounder_reductions.pdfhttp://mgcc.mb.ca/forms/backgrounder_reductions.pdfhttp://mgcc.mb.ca/forms/backgrounder_reductions.pdfhttp://mgcc.mb.ca/forms/backgrounder_reductions.pdfhttp://mgcc.mb.ca/forms/backgrounder_reductions.pdfhttp://mgcc.mb.ca/forms/backgrounder_reductions.pdf


12/12

regulatoryservicesintoaonestopshop.TheMLCCsoperationalactivitiesarebeing

mergedwiththeMLCtocreateasinglestreamlinedCrowncorporation.

History of Liquor Regulation in Manitoba-1

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