The announcement that Quebec would begin requiring vaccine passports at SAQ and SQDC sites sparked discussions about access to legal cannabis and alcohol in the province. In Canada, the struggle for a total ban on alcohol began in the national referendum of 1898, in which people were asked if they wanted a complete ban that would include the import, manufacture and sale of all types of alcoholic beverages (p. 4). Although the national results were extremely close to each other, with the Yes vote leading the way with 2%, regional disparities were significant (p. 5). In Quebec, 81% of voters rejected the proposed ban, while the rest of Canada rejected the ban (Petkantchin, 2005, p. 8). Fearing that Canada would be divided by a marked divide between French Catholics and English Protestants, then Prime Minister Wilfrid Laurier decided not to respond to the election results (Dupré, 2008, p. 5). In 1917, all provinces except Quebec introduced a complete ban on alcohol.
A year later, a law was proposed in Quebec that provided for a complete ban in 1919. The law was never enacted due to opposition from the public and the Catholic Church (Petkantchin, 2005, p. 8). Quebec has banned spirits such as whiskey and scotch, which has been called a partial ban. The government invoked illegal distillation, but mounting pressure forced it to back down. The Alcoholic Beverages Act repealed the partial ban in 1921. This Act created the Commission des alcools du Québec as a monopoly on the distribution and retail sale of alcohol (SAQ, 2009). Officially, the government has declared that the control of alcohol abuse was the official reason for the creation of this new agency (Paradis & Sacy, 2005). Over the years, the SAQ has increased its profits, which have been transferred to the government. The Régie des alcools du Québec (RAQ) was founded in 1961 to promote business growth and quickly opened its first self-service store. With the opening of other stores, the government began to focus on various aspects of alcohol sales in Quebec.
“The government commissions a new study on the trade in alcoholic beverages and creates the Thinel Commission for this purpose” (SAQ, 2009). Based on the recommendations of the Thinel Commission in 1971, the Société des Alcools du Québec was founded to be responsible for the sale. The SAQ took over the branches and employees of the RAQ and became strictly commercial (Petkantchin, 2005, p. 10). The SAQ has continued to produce economic growth for the Government of Quebec over time. Its strength in commercialization has led to several privatization projects submitted to the government. When the privatization of the SAQ`s retail network was announced in 1983, the unions vehemently opposed it. Petkantchin (2005) explains that this privatization project suffered from many weaknesses: it was the privatization of “certain points of sale in Montreal,” but without competition from other SAQ companies. Petkantchin argues that “the benefits of this partial privatization, if it had taken place, would have been very limited for consumers.” Consumers would have remained “trapped, with no real alternative” (p.
10). The saq`s incredible stores would also have been protected from competition from privatized stores, which would have had to buy their SAQ products at fixed prices. With a slightly softer line on this issue than the Coalition Avenir Québec party, which wants to reach the legal age of 21, PQ leader Jean-François Lisée argued that it is almost impossible to find the right age because young people will still smoke. Approximately 8,000 products in the form of wine, beer and spirits are available in SAQ stores in Montreal and throughout the province of Quebec for people who have reached the legal drinking age. In 1921, an alcoholic beverages act was passed and the Commission des alcools du Québec was created to trade in beer, wine and cider, and eventually spirits. This provincial company would then exercise a legal monopoly on the entire distribution of alcohol in Quebec. [8] In its first year of existence, the Commission set up a quality control laboratory, opened 64 stores selling 383 products, employed 415 people and had a turnover of USD 15 million. [9] QUEBEC CITY – The Parti Québécois has opted for a strict, state-controlled marijuana distribution system, but would set the legal age of purchase at 18. The legal age to consume alcohol in Quebec is 18 years[4] and there are restrictions on who can buy alcoholic beverages (R.S.Q. I-8.1). [5] By law, SAQ stores are not allowed to sell alcohol to minors or adults who intend to distribute it to minors (including holders of parental responsibility). Nevertheless, minors are not excluded from SAQ branches.
The official policy is to require photo ID from any customer under the age of 25. You must be of legal age to purchase these products, which are 18 years of age or older at the SAQ and 21 years of age or older at the SQDC. You will be asked to provide proof upon delivery. Founded in 1921, the SAQ or Société des alcools du Québec, French of the Société des alcools du Québec, is a Crown corporation owned by the provincial government of Quebec. The SAQ has a legal monopoly on the distribution of alcohol in the province of Quebec, a mandatory control of the sale of spirits to businesses and consumers. The Quebec government is still debating and preparing its own plan to respond to the federal legalization of marijuana, which will come into effect on July 1. Ontario has set the minimum legal age at 19. At the end of 2017, about eight months before the planned legalization of recreational marijuana across the country, the province planned for the SAQ to manage the sale of the product. Initially, 20 stores were to be opened; Online sales would also be offered, with deliveries made to customers by Canada Post. [7] Postmedia is committed to creating a dynamic but civil discussion forum and encourages all readers to share their views on our articles.