The Saskatchewan Hotels and Hospitality Association (SHHA) is urging the provincial government to lower the price off-sale stores pay for alcohol.

The government is currently considering a request by SHHA to purchase liquor at the wholesale price, and not retail prices as they are currently.

"We buy from the government stores and it's the same price that consumers buy it for," said Tom Mullin, president and CEO of SHHA, in a report by Regina Leader-Post.

"We've always been buying retail and we're interested in a better pricing scenario that would see retailers purchase all the products at the same wholesale price, then compete on the open market." Dan D'Autremont, minster for the Saskatchewan Liquor and Gaming Authority, made very clear that the consideration is by no means an affirmative response.

"The starting premise for us as government is that we're not taking less money. After that we're prepared to listen to the proposals and consider them, but that doesn't necessarily mean we're changing anything," he said.

Mullin insists that the 15 to 20 per cent increase in cost when purchasing liquor at an off-sale store is due to the acquisition of products at retail price. He states that the SHHA is not interested in privatization as in Alberta, but does want a better pricing system.
 
City liquor tax may break law
A proposed new set of taxes by Thompson city council, including a two per cent surcharge on all alcohol sold in the city may conflict with the Manitoba Liquor Control Commission, which requires that the price of alcohol at every government-run liquor outlet across the province be identical.

"The City of Thompson has looked at different options... to deal with the issues we face," Mayor Tim Johnston told the Winnipeg Free Press. "This is one of those options that council has considered, and we're taking the final steps to adoption."

Although Johnston acknowledges that the tax possibly contradicts provincial law in the Liquor Control Act, he also notes that provincial law allows municipalities to pass local taxes. He argues that the new taxes will allow the community to raise money for infrastructure upgrades and rising costs related to policing and social services, without having to increase property taxes.

The new taxes are opposed by business groups and local residents. Even if the taxes, expected to generate $716,000 annually, are finalized by the city, the province will have to supply the final approval.