HistoryofLiquorRegulationinManitoba

Aswebrowsethroughtheselectionatourfavouriteliquorstore,itcanbehardtobelievehow muchourlawshavechangedduringthepastcentury. Just40yearsago,buyingliquormeantliningupatacountersoaclerkcouldretrievethe bottlesfromthebackroom.Everytimeweordered,wehadtofilloutaformwithallsortsof personalinformationsoourpurchasescouldbetracked. ManyManitobanscanrecallearliertimes,whenwomenwerentallowedtodrinkinthesame barroomasmenorevencarrybeerfromastorageroomtostocktheshelves.Afewremember thebriefageofProhibitionwhenmostpeoplecouldpurchaseliquoronlyformedicinal purposesandwhenillegalspeakeasiesflourished. Overthecourseof350years,muchhaschangedinthewaywebuy,sell,consumeandregulate alcoholjustasourownsocietalattitudeshaveevolved. Hereisabriefhistoryofourliquorlaws,fromtheroughandtumbleeraofthefurtradetothe presentday.

TamingtheFurTrade
Liquorisanimportantfactorinthefurtrade.Earlyliquorlawsaremostlyanattempttocontrol theviolenceeruptingaroundtradingposts.

1657

ThefirstCanadianliquorlawsareintroduced.Until1870,theHudsonsBay CompanycontrolsthesaleofliquorthroughitsoutpostsandtheBoardofLiquor ControlCommissioners.Liquorismainlyavailablethroughahandfuloflicensed hotels,clubsandsaloons.Lawsprohibitliquorfrombeingtradedorgivento Aboriginals.

TheLongCampaignforProhibition
Inthelate19thcentury,theTemperanceMovementexertspressuretobanalcohol(Prohibition). Amidtheemotionallychargeddebate,thefederalgovernmentshiftsdecisionmakingtothe provinces.

1878

TheCanadaTemperanceActgivesprovincesthepowertobanthesaleofalcoholif supportedbyamajorityvote.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: Liquorcanbepurchasedonlythroughgovernmentdispensariesandonlyfor usesthatareindustrial,scientific,mechanical,artistic,sacramentalormedicinal. Alllegaldrinkingestablishmentsareclosed. Alcoholcanbeconsumedonlyinaprivatedwelling. Distillersandbrewerscanbelicensedtomanufacturealcohol,butsalesare permittedonlyoutsideoftheprovince. Manitobanssoonfindwaystoskirtthelaw.Illegalspeakeasiesandbootleggers flourish.Doctorsprescriptionsformedicinalpurposesarewidelyabusedas evidencedbythelonglineupsatpharmaciesduringtheDecemberholidayseason.

ProhibitionEndsandNewLiquorLawsEmerge
Manitobasbanonalcoholdoesntlastlong.In1921,justfiveyearsafterProhibitionwas declared,amajorityvoteallowsthesaleofalcoholinManitobathroughaprovincial governmentagency.Twoyearslater,Manitobaintroducesnewlawsthatcontrol

manufacturing,distributionandsaleofliquor.Asidefromminortinkering,theselawsremainin effectforthreedecades.

1923

TheGovernmentLiquorControlActintroducesstrictregulationsforpricing, advertising,salesquotasandpersonalpurchasinglimits: Wineandbeercanbesoldthroughgovernmentcontrolledliquorstoresto eligibleManitobansholdinggovernmentissuedpermits.Theseproductscanbe consumedonlyatthelocationdescribedonthepermit. Liquormustbeconsumedathome. Beercanbesoldbylocalbreweriesandbylicensedbeerparloursoflicensed hotels.Individualscanpurchasenomorethan24quartsofbeeraweekor72 quartsamonth. Liquorandwinecantbetransportedbutcanbedeliveredtoahomeresidence foranadditionalfeeof25centsperbottle. Manitobaistheonlyprovincetokeeprecordsofallliquorsalesandpurchases, includingname,addressandthetypeandquantityofliquorpurchased.This informationisavailabletolawenforcementandsocialwelfareauthoritieson request. Peoplecanbebannedfrombuyingliquorontheauthorityofthepolice magistrateortwojusticesofthepeace. Liquorcanbemanufacturedbylicensedindividuals. TheLiquorControlCommission(LCC)ofManitobaiscreatedtooverseeallaspects ofliquorbuying,sellingandservice.TheLCCplaysamoreactiveroleinregulation thanthepreviousbody.

1928

LiquorlawsarefinetunedthroughamendmentstotheAct.Beerparlourscannow belicensedtosellbeerbytheglass.However,allrulesarestrictlyprescribedinan attempttoestablishamoralandrespectablepublicspacefordrinking. Beerparloursarepurelyforthebusinessofdrinkingnotforpleasureor entertainment.Therecanbenofood,standing,singing,dancing,musical instruments,gamblingorgamesofanykind.Businessmustbeconductedonacash onlybasisnocreditorcheques. Mixeddrinkingisforbidden.Womencanholdliquorpermitsandenterbeer parlours,butcantoccupythesamespaceasmen.Ifahotelwantstoserveboth menandwomen,itmusthaveaseparatebeerparlourforeachsex,withseparate entrancesforeachandnocommunicationbetweenthetwospaces.Womenare

alsoforbiddenfromsellingorhandlingbeerinabeerparlour.Aboriginalsand peopleunder21arenotallowedonthepremises. ManitobasonlywomensbeerparlouropensatWinnipegBeachin1928,butis shutdownafterafewhoursbecauseithasnotobtainedthenecessarylicence. TheLiquorControlLicensingBoard(theBoard)isestablishedtocontrolwhich establishmentswillbegrantedpermitstosellorservebeer.TheBoardworkswith theLCCaspartofalargergovernmentsponsoredagency.Thefollowingyear,the OfficeoftheChiefInspectoriscreatedtoenforceliquorlaws.

1934 1936 1942

BeervendorsappearinManitoba.Hotelscannowbecomelicensedtosellbeerfor offsiteconsumption. PricingfavoursmadeinManitobabeer.Abottleofbeermanufacturedoutside Manitobamustbesoldforfivecentsmorethanlocallyproducedbeer. Enforcementmovestopolice.TheRCMPandWinnipegPoliceMoralityDepartment agreetoassumeresponsibilityforliquorlawenforcementinreturnforpayment. TheOfficeoftheChiefInspectorisdownsized.

1943 1950

BeerrationingisintroducedduringWorldWarII.Rationingremainsineffectuntil 1948. Steinbachremainsdry.WhenmostofManitobaendedProhibitiondecadesearlier, Steinbachdidnot.In1950,thepeopleofSteinbachvotetocontinuethebanagainst allliquorsalesintheircommunity.

LawsEvolvewithChangingPublicAttitudes
AfterWorldWarI,Manitobansattitudestowardalcoholbegintorelax.Bythe1950sthepublic isreadyforamajoroverhaulofManitobasliquorlaws,includinganewapproachtoselling alcohol.

1955

Aprovincialreviewcommitteerecommendsliquorlawsbemodernized.Ledby formerpremierJohnBracken(BrackenReport),thecommitteeadvocatesastronger emphasisonselfcontrolandmoreequaltreatmentofallManitobansover21, includingwomenandAboriginals.

InresponsetotheBrackenReport,thenewLiquorControlActisbroughtforward andispassedintolawthefollowingyear.TheActisamendedrepeatedlyoverthe nextsixdecadesbutmostofthebasicprovisionsremain. Anewliquorvendingsystemisestablished.WhenTheLiquorControlActcomes intoeffect,Manitobansnolongerneedtoapplyforapermittobuyalcohol.Instead, theyvisitagovernmentliquorstoreandcompleteanorderform.Theylisttheir name,address,andthetypeandquantityofliquorpurchasedsoallsalescanbe tracked.Theythenpresenttheformtoaclerk,whoretrievestheorderfromaback room. Allowablehoursforsellingliquorareextended.Sellingandservinghoursare extendedseveralmoretimesoverthenext55years. Sundayservingispermittedforthefirsttime.Golfandcurlingclubsarethefirstto beabletoserveliquoronSundays.Thischangemarksthestartofseveral amendmentsrelatedtoSundayhours. Beerparloursarenowrequiredtoservefoodandnonalcoholicbeverages.They mustalsocloseduringthesupperhour. Liquorstillcantbeadvertised.Adsfortobaccoabound,butbeer,wineandliquor cantbepromotedtothepublic.

1956

1957 1960

Mixedgenderdrinkingisallowedincocktaillounges,beverageroomsand restaurants. Aboriginalpeoplecanpurchaseliquorforoffpremisesconsumption.However, theyarestillunabletoconsumeliquorinlicensedestablishments,andsalesarenot allowedonreserves.

Manitobabeginsextendinghoursofserviceforbeerparlours,vendorsand beveragerooms.Hoursgraduallybecomelongerandmoreflexiblethrough frequentamendmentstothelawoverthenext51years. Onvotingdays,liquorstoresandlicensedpremisescanremainopen,except duringfederalandprovincialelections.In1966,thegovernmentallowslicensed premisesandliquorstorestobeopenandoccasionalpermitstobeissuedafterthe pollscloseonprovincialelectiondays.

1961

LicensedPremisesBecomeMorethanPlacestoDrink
Intheswinging60s,barsandsupperclubsstarttoevolveintoplacesofentertainmentforboth menandwomen.

1962 1965

Dancinganddrinkingareallowedforthefirsttime.Fora$10fee,alicenseddining roomcanobtainapermittodance. Gamesarepermittedforthefirsttime.Barsareallowedtoaddgameslikedarts andshuffleboard,addingtheairofanEnglishpubtomanyestablishments. Hotelswithlicenseddiningroomscanserveliquortoguestsintheirrooms. Aircraftcanserveliquor.Aircraftcannowobtainadiningroomlicence.By1980,air carrierswillbeabletoopenlicensedhospitalityloungesattheairport.

1966 1967

Liquoradvertisingisnowpermittedwithsomerestrictionsonwhenadscanbe aired. Homewinemakingisallowed.AhobbypractisedbysomeManitobansformany yearsnowbecomeslegal. Nomorelimitsonindividualpurchasesofliquor.Manitobanscannowbuy unlimitedquantitiesatonetime.

1968

TheAgeofSocialReform
Theprogressive1970sbringgreaterequalityofaccessandanendtothepracticeoftracking individualsliquorpurchases.

1970

Thelegaldrinkingageisloweredto18.Manitobabecomesoneofthefirst provincestoreducetheeligibleagetobuyliquorfrom21yearsofage.Duringthe nextdecade,allprovinceswilllowertheminimumageto18or19.

Dancingisallowedinalllicensedestablishments.Venuesmustprovidelivemusic toqualifyforadancinglicence.In1979,Manitobabeginsgraduallyliftingthis restrictiontoallowforrecordedmusic.

Selfserveliquorstoresopen.TheManitobaLiquorControlCommission(MLCC) introducesmodernretailstoresthatevolveintotheLiquorMartsweknowtoday. Manitobansnolongerneedtowritedownordersandpersonalinformationona pieceofpapersothataclerkcanretrievetheproductfromtheback,andthereis nomoretrackingofindividualliquorsales.Ittakesaboutadecadetoconvertall storestothenewsystem. MLCChiresthefirstwomentoworkinliquorstores. Liquorcanbeconsumedinanexpandedrangeofvenues.Newtypesoflicences areintroducedsoalcoholcanbeconsumedinliveperformancetheatres,sporting venuesandexcursionboats,andatcommunityeventslikefairs,exhibitionsand tournaments.Therearealsofewerrestrictionsondiningroomandcocktaillounge licensing. Juvenilescanconsumealcoholunderparentalorspousalsupervision.Inaclub, restaurant,diningroomorcabaret,liquorcanbeconsumedbysomeoneunder18if itisboughtforhim/herbyaparentorspouseandconsumedwithamealintheir presence. Liquorsalesareallowedonreservesprovidingthebandhasissuedaproclamation permittingconsumptionofliquoronthereserve.

1971

1972 1975

Womenarepermittedtohandle,serveandsellbeerinabeerparlour. Manitobabeginsestablishingdutyfreeliquorstores.Thefirstisestablishedat WinnipegInternationalAirport.Dutyfreestoresareaddedatgroundcrossingsof theManitobaU.S.borderin1982.

MLCCbecomesthefirstliquoragencyinCanadatolaunchamarketingcampaign. Certainsubstancescontainingalcoholaredesignatedasnonpotableintoxicantsin responsetogrowingabuseproblems.

1977

WaitersandwaitressesnolongerneedtobelicensedbyMLCC.

GreaterEmphasisonPersonalResponsibility

Increasingpermissivenessinliquorlawsisbalancedbyotherlawsimposingtougherpenalties forabuseofalcohol,includingdrivingwhileimpaired.Individualsareexpectedtotakemore personalresponsibilityfortheconsequencesofconsuming,servingandsellingliquor.

1979 1980

Patronsareallowedtostandupwhiledrinking. IndividualscanbringalcoholintoManitobafromotherprovinces.Theynolonger needtoleaveliquorattheborderwhenenteringManitoba. Sundayandholidayliquorservicecontinuestoexpand.Beverageandcocktail roomscanserveliquoronSundays,ThanksgivingandChristmasDay,butonlywith meals.

1982

MLCCseeksgreaterunderstandingoflawsbyoperators.TheLicenseeFieldManual isdevelopedanddistributedtohelplicenseesandtheiremployeesunderstandand complywiththeirrequirementsandresponsibilitiesconcerningdaytoday operations.

Licenseerequirementsbecomesimplerandmorepragmatic.Beerparlourscanset theirownbeerprices.Licenseescandispenseliquorinformsotherthantheoriginal container.Allformsoflicensedestablishmentshavemorelatitudetosettheirown hourswithinspecifiedguidelines.MLCCnolongerneedstoapproveallfoodand liquormenus. FreesamplescanbeprovidedatspecialfunctionsapprovedbyMLCC. MLCCintroducesphotoIDcards.Manitobans18andovercannowobtainphoto identificationcardsthroughMLCCforuseasproofofage.

1983 1984

Peoplewithoutcitizenshipcanapplyforliquorlicences.Thischangeends discriminationwithinthelicensingsystemagainstpeoplewhoarenotCanadian citizens.

Beverageroomsandbeerparloursnolongerneedtocloseduringthesupper hour. Liquorsalescanbeupto60%ofrevenuesinlicenseddiningrooms,cocktailrooms andrestaurants. Aboriginalpeoplecanconsumeliquor,bothonandoffreserveasManitobaacts onprovisionsputinplacebythefederalgovernmentin1951.

1985

Beerparlourscansellspiritsandwineinadditiontobeer. Gamesofchancearepermittedinlicensedestablishments. Liquorcanbeservedonanytypeofelectionday,includingfederalandprovincial elections.

1987

Thelegaldefinitionofliquorchanges.Inresponsetonewproductsappearingin themarketplace,liquorisnowdefinedinlegislationasanypotablesubstance containingmorethan1percentalcoholbyvolume.

Licenceclassesarestreamlined.Thenumberofclassesisreducedfrom24to11. Beerandwineadvertisementscanairatanytimeofday.Thereisnolongera restrictionbetween7:00a.m.and10:00p.m.

1988

LicenseesgaintherighttodemandphotoIDwithproofandage.Theycanalso ejectanyonewhodoesnotcomply. Tougherlawscomeintoeffectforabusesofbuyingandselling.Itbecomesamajor offencetosellliquortoanintoxicatedpersonoranyoneunder18,ortobuyliquorif under18.

1993

Vendorshavemorepriceandproductoptions.Theycannowsellimportedbeer,as wellasdomestic.Theyarenolongerrequiredtocarrybeerfromeachbreweryin theprovince,andcanchargedifferentpricesfordifferentdomesticbeers.Theycan alsoconductbeersampling. Privatelyownedwinestoresareintroduced.Alimitednumberofstoresare licensed.Regulationssetoutdetailssuchasthenumberandtypeofstores, discountstructure,annualfeesandgeneralrulesofoperation.

1994

GovernmentissuedphotoIDbecomestheonlyacceptableproofofage. MLCCcontinuestosharpenitsfocus.TheMLCCnolongersetsthestandardsfor sanitation,cuisineandtouristaccommodationsforlicensedpremises. Minimumdrinkpricingcomesintoeffect.Licensedpremisesandoccasionalpermit holdersmustchargeaminimumof$2.25perdrink.

2001

Mandatorytrainingisintroducedforowners,managersandsales/servicestaff.

Sundayregulationscontinuetoevolve.AlcoholcanbesoldonSundaysfromnoon to6p.m.inLiquorMartsandfromnoontomidnightincabarets,beveragerooms andnonsportprivateclubs. Promotionsencouragingexcessivedrinkingareoutlawed.Manitobabansallyou candrinkpromotionsandcontestswherealcoholconsumptionispartofthegame.

2004 2005

Dinerscantakehomeunconsumedwine.Restaurantscanrecorkabottleofwine thathasbeenservedwithameal,allowingthepatrontotakethebottlehometo finishatanothertime.

2007 2009

Patronscancarrydrinkstowashroomswithinoradjacenttolicensedpremises. ManitobasphotoIDsystemisstreamlined.MLCCceasesitsprogramafter ManitobaPublicInsuranceintroducesanewformofgovernmentissuedphotoID fornondrivers.

ANewVisionforModernization
In2011theManitobagovernmentannouncesplanstocreateasaferandmorewelcoming environmentforeconomicdevelopmentrelatedtoManitobashospitalitysector.

2011

ManitobasNewHospitalityStrategyisunveiledinMay.TheamendmentstoThe LiquorControlActarepassedintolawonJune16.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.

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 ofNovember. 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 boutiquestylestoreinsouthWinnipegisexpectedtoopeninlate2012. Regulationofliquorandgamingtomergeintooneauthority.TheApril17,2012 ManitobaBudgetannouncesthatliquorregulationwillbecontrolledbythesame authorityregulatinggaming.TheManitobagovernmentexpectsthenewmodelto reduceredtapeforManitobabusinessesbybringinginspectionsandother

regulatoryservicesintoaonestopshop.TheMLCCsoperationalactivitiesarebeing mergedwiththeMLCtocreateasinglestreamlinedCrowncorporation.