Liquor pricing raises concern

By Richard Rolke - Vernon Morning Star Published: August 28

There are calls to tighten up “cheap drink nights” at Vernon’s pubs and night clubs. Coun. Patrick Nicol is increasingly concerned about beverage prices at drinking establishments, and that over-consumption may lead to some problems for the RCMP. “Clearly people will drink and we want them to drink safely,” he said, adding that a major concern in Vernon is drinking and driving. “It’s a nut-show out there when that generally takes place.” There is also the concern that over-consumption may lead to physical altercations that the RCMP must respond to. “Cheap drink nights create problems way beyond those recognized,” said Nicol. Nicol wants the RCMP to review the pricing of drinks and for there to be open dialogue with the owners of bars. “We should try to identify where the problem areas are,” he said. “Engage the people who own these operations because they are good people.” Mayor Wayne Lippert agrees with Nicol that the issue of over consumption and the impact on the community is serious, but he believes most night club owners are aware of that. “There have been a couple of requests from operators to do away with that,” he said of lower pricing for alcohol.