Vision Vancouver Coun. Heather Deal says a January 18 decision by the NPA-controlled council allowing small beer and wine stores to sell hard spirits smacks of “hypocrisy”.

“We have [NPA Coun.] Kim Capri and the Mayor [Sam Sullivan] saying they want everybody to behave themselves, line up and say ”˜please and thank you’ but they don’t seem to recognize that our own police department is telling us that liquor has an impact on that,” Deal told the Straight.

Deal also said that the move doesn’t fit into Sullivan’s Project Civil City, which purports to improve the supposed deteriorating state of public order.

One of the project’s key action points is the appointment of civil-city commissioner, a position which Vancouver police chief Jamie Graham earlier said is not needed.

“You could see this hypocrisy there,” Deal said. “The police chief is telling us that he doesn’t see why we need a civil-city commissioner when that’s the job of the police department, and then when the police department comes forward with a recommendation that has to do with public disorder, the NPA rejects it.”

Capri, who helped Sullivan launch Project Civil City last November 27, told the Straight that it’s not the type of liquor but the quantity people drink that matters.

“It doesn’t mater whether it’s a glass of beer, glass of wine or a mixed spirit drink,” Capri said. “It’s how much people consume, that’s the issue.”

Capri said that the new policy “shouldn’t have an impact at all” on public order.

“One of the things about having the amended bylaws where there’s a greater access to spirits is that people won’t have to get in their cars and drive to their liquor stores," she said. "They can go shop within their neighbourhoods, which promotes the whole sustainability initiative.”

Sean McEwen is a member of the Kits-Arbutus Residents Association. He is concerned about another amendment to the liquor bylaws, which council also approved last January 18.

It involves the recognition of new local shopping areas (LSAs) as locations for liquor stores.

McEwen told the Straight that the approval of applications for new liquor stores has thus become an administrative matter for city staff to decide.

“As long as it’s [application] consistent with local shopping area guidelines, staff and go ahead and process,” he said. “Before, council had to be involved in the decision and so now staff can approve without going to council.”

Beth Orson, a member of the South Vancouver Ad Hoc Neighbourhood Coalition, told the Straight that ideally, the community would petition city hall if its members feel the need for a liquor store in their area.