Wine Kitz Atlantic

Let’s get a bit political………..again

Last month the Wine Kitz location in Halifax launched a petition website where consumers may sign and send a letter to Premier Darrell Dexter in support of introducing in-store winery service to Nova Scotia. To date, hundreds of letters have been sent and many others have signed the on-line petition. This petition can be viewed by visiting
http://UVintNS.ca

In response to these many letters, Graham Steele, minister responsible for the Liquor Act, has responded with his own letter. This letter may be reviewed in its entirety by visiting http://uvintns.ca/ (letter to be posted imminently)

I would like to share a few excerpts from this letter and, at the risk of repeating myself from previous articles, offer comments on several of Mr. Steele’s’ points.

Minister Steele defends against the introduction of in-store winery services by stating “Our Government’s primary issue is our concern for the financial impact this type of business may have on the NSLC and thus the Government of Nova Scotia.”

I respectfully submit…..

Historically, in provinces where in-store winery services are well established, the consumer-made wine industry has enhanced the sales of commercial wines. This fact is easily supported by reviewing the Annual Sales Report of provinces which offer in-store winery services. Reviewing New Brunswick’s Annual Sales Reports for the past 5 years is a good starting point.

The in-store winery service introduces consumers to the responsible enjoyment of wine consumption. A wine maker will eventually retire his/her winemaking pail but will rarely retire his/her wine glass.

Minister Steele’s second point reads “Secondly, governments in Nova Scotia since 1930 have decided that because of the health impacts this product has on society that any profits from retailing it in Nova Scotia should go towards assisting the provincial government to meet the services provided to its citizens. As part of this public policy choice, we set minimum pricing which the product cannot be retailed below. Through this social responsibility approach we balance the public’s desire for the product with the societal impacts.”

I respectfully submit…..

Consumers have been making “home-made” wine for as little as $2 a bottle for many years. Same applies to “home-made” beer makers. To date, a source of inexpensive alcohol has yet to create chaos and open-drunkenness on Nova Scotia streets. In-store winemaking or winemaking of any kind simply does not attract this type of demographic.
Footnote: Updating the NS liquor laws of 1930 may be a sound idea.

Minister Steele’s last point reads: Additionally, while it is illegal for u-vints in other provinces to supply licensed establishments, they sometimes do so anyway.

I respectfully submit…..

This is not a legitimate reason to prohibit a new industry into the province. There are bad apples in every barrel and u-vint products could find its way into licensed establishments. NSLC and their regional partners sell alcohol every day, risking that it may end up in the hands of minors or drivers but this does not prevent or inhibit the sale of alcohol.

Hypothetically, if retail-only wine-making stores did not exist in Nova Scotia, and we were requesting government support for the introduction of retail-only wine-making stores, I can only guess what the response would be.

So what is the Nova Scotia government so concerned or afraid of, that other provinces that offer in-store winery services are not? For several years I have heard the same above arguments from other bureaucratic round table meetings that I have attended. Could it be that securing annual performance bonuses is what’s hindering the introducing of this new industry in Nova Scotia?

Blair Sampson
Wine Kitz New Minas