Vancouver Police Department may close liquor stores early during Canucks Stanley Cup playoff run

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      Former Vancouver NPA councillor Lynne Kennedy will never forget the chaos on Robson Street during the 1994 Stanley Cup riot. In a phone interview with the Georgia Straight, she said “alcohol fuelled the atmosphere”, which culminated in hundreds of police officers clashing with hooligans throughout the night.

      Contrast that with the “family atmosphere” of the 2010 Winter Olympics, Kennedy continued, and it is clear that the Vancouver Police Department was doing something right during the Games. She said one strategy that proved effective in maintaining public order this past February was the early closure of liquor stores and shops selling beer and wine.

      Located in the downtown core are six provincial liquor stores and many more private shops. Dylan Palmer, a manager at Crosstown Liquor on Abbot Street, told the Straight that he estimated a 30-percent loss in revenue for each day the VPD had his store close early. But Palmer was quick to note that although the closures were bad for business, they were good for public safety.

      He said he doesn’t expect closures during the playoffs, and explained that for Canucks games, people buy their booze before the puck is dropped. During the Olympics, it was different, Palmer continued, with people purchasing alcohol at all times of the day.

      Seema Talwar, a manager at Jimmy’s Cold Beer and Wine on Robson Street, told the Straight that the VPD’s closures also cost her store “quite a bit” of money. She said that although there are issues of public safety involved with the sale of liquor, it was her impression that people were well-behaved during the Olympics.

      “We are grownups,” Talwar remarked. “I think we can handle this [the sale of alcohol during major events].”

      She also noted that some of her staff could be living paycheque-to-paycheque, and expressed concern that more closures could hurt people’s livelihoods.

      VPD media spokesperson Const. Lindsey Houghton said that before a closure is recommended, a complicated set of factors is weighed by a number of officers. After this has occurred, VPD chief Jim Chu makes a final decision.

      “It is not one person sitting down and deciding on a whim,” Houghton said. “We know that it is a bit of an imposition on businesses because, essentially, what we are doing is asking the GM of the LCLB to consider closing a business.”

      Houghton maintained that a recommendation of early liquor-store closures is a last option for the VPD.

      Representatives of the Calgary, Edmonton, Toronto, Ottawa, and Montreal police departments told the Straight that they couldn’t recall their agencies ever requesting early closure of liquor stores for major events.

      How do you feel about the VPD warning of early liquor-store closures during the hockey playoffs?

      Ashley Fehr
      Director of operations, Kwantlen Student Association

      “I think they’re kind of treating the people like children.”¦People will just get more alcohol earlier or they’ll make sure they’re drinking at home, but I don’t think it really slows down any of the problems that they are seeing. During the Olympics it might have helped, given that there were so many tourists in town, but when it comes to people who live in the area, they already have it on hand.”

      Gerald Thomas
      Senior policy and research analyst, Canadian Centre on Substance Abuse

      “I’m happy they have a tool that they can use when they think they need it. I trust the police to be able to determine when that’s got to happen, right? On the other hand, it kind of bothers me that people aren’t responsible enough with their freedoms to keep themselves in check, and we have to have another rule.”

      Raymond Louie
      Vision Vancouver city councillor

      “I think it’s important that the message be put out to the public that public consumption of alcohol should not happen and that everyone should have a good time during this playoff run in a responsible fashion. If we act responsibly, we can recreate the fun and inspiring feeling we experienced during our Olympic Games, and I hope that everyone will agree with that.”

      Lynne Kennedy
      Former NPA councillor, ex–Vancouver police board member, former chair of Vancouver liquor licensing commission

      “It’s worth a try. I think back to the riot—the [1994] Stanley Cup riot—part of that was fuelled by anger and possibly, you know, alcohol sales.”¦I think it’s probably a good policy. People liked the city during the Olympics. They loved the family atmosphere. They loved that. It was kind of like,”˜Take back the downtown.’ I think that was a good thing.”


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      Comments

      11 Comments

      Birdy

      Apr 15, 2010 at 5:04am

      I bet Midnight Express is happy to hear this.

      Prohibition doesn't work, even temporarily. The contraband will still be available but the money will go to the black market instead. How many more decades will it take for this lesson to be understood in Canada?

      Stop fighting basic economics, the market *always* finds a way.

      ryan s

      Apr 15, 2010 at 2:23pm

      should only last a few games anyways...

      therzo

      Apr 15, 2010 at 8:52pm

      Absolutely ridiculous. Instead, we should be going the other way and allowing all corner stores to sell beer and other alcohols. The amount of fear people live in is pathetic. A little bit of freedom will not release the Kraken.

      Maudern

      Apr 16, 2010 at 9:52am

      Closing liquor stores early is short-sighted, bush-league and embarrassing. It does not happen elsewhere (execpt maybe Salt Lake City or the middle east).

      What about the overwhelming majority of sensible adults who would like to enjoy a glass of beer or wine on a festive night? Sometimes this happens spontaneously on a Saturday night.

      Has anyone ever been to a world class city where they know how to throw a party?

      They understand that if your treat people like children, they will act as such.

      Burnaby Joe

      Apr 16, 2010 at 10:21am

      Message to Ashley Fehr - those were locals drinking in the streets during the Olympics. If the idiots from Surrey can't behave themselves when they come to the streets of Vancouver, then the liquor stores will have to be closed. Its unfortunate that these drunken idiots need to make our City look bad, but closing the liquor stores early is the simplest option and it works.

      duncan

      Apr 16, 2010 at 11:30am

      i said it during the olympics. so fucking ridiculous. when did the vpd become vancouver’s tightass parent, taking away candy when the child threatens to act out?

      rights are supposed to be retained until a crime is committed; not removed in anticipation of <em>potential</em> trouble.

      BCLiberal

      Apr 17, 2010 at 1:20am

      I think we should implement this policy whenever the legislature sits.

      good times

      Apr 17, 2010 at 2:04pm

      “I think it’s important that the message be put out to the public that public consumption of alcohol should not happen (WHAT) and that everyone should have a good time during this playoff run in a responsible fashion. If we act responsibly, we can recreate the fun and inspiring feeling we experienced during our Olympic Games, and I hope that everyone will agree with that.” (well, they don't)

      what the f is that raymond? everyone was drunk at the olympics..the only reason there was no trouble is because the police let it go on. when you try to restrict peoples freedoms it incites the precise belligerent reaction that you are trying to suppress. all the goons come out of the woodwork to meet the challenge, so don't challenge them. even drunken 20 something males want to be included in a "family" society, so include them! let them drink, tell them it's ok to do so, and you won't have any problems. it's only when you tell them they are bad people just for being themselves that they will act out and kick over paper boxes and the like. go to barcelona and see how families and drinkers can coexist peacefully, you can buy beer on every corner for a dollar and drink it while you stroll around and everyone's happy. stop telling kids that drinking is subversive because once they've crossed that psychological line into criminal territory, there's no telling what they're going to do. don't make criminals out of normal people that just want to walk around with a beer in their hand! free people are happy people, so don't turn us all into bitter drunks.. you sound like my little sister.

      Reg

      Apr 18, 2010 at 11:59am

      The Canucks won't be in the playoffs long enough for any one to get liquored up, anyway.

      RodSmelser

      Apr 20, 2010 at 9:29am

      BCLiberal

      I think we should implement this policy whenever the legislature sits.
      ==============================

      Scotch and corn flakes?
      Rod Smelser