Nova Scotia to get taste of people’s tolerance for more access to booze

The Nova Scotia government is re-examining where and how people can buy alcohol. (Rick Conrad)

You may get a wider selection of stores to buy your 2-4 in Nova Scotia.

The provincial government is looking at expanding the places where people can buy booze.

Finance Minister John Lohr said in a release Thursday that the province wants to reach out to the public and people in the industry to gauge their thoughts and concerns about making alcohol available in more stores or allowing more places where people can drink.

“Nova Scotia is taking steps to eliminate interprovincial trade barriers, and that makes this a good time to look at how alcohol is sold and consumed,” Lohr said in a release.

The province plans to commission a public opinion survey of 1,500 Nova Scotians beginning this week.

Provincial officials want to gather input from people about the types of stores where liquor is sold, locations where people can drink alcohol, and the health and safety consequences of any changes.

Lohr says the province will also be surveying more than 250 health and safety groups, store owners, municipal governments, industry and consumer groups, alcohol producers and others.

The government will seek input until June 30. It didn’t say when the results of the consultations will be released, or when the province may make a change to how and where alcohol is sold in Nova Scotia.

Email: rickconradqccr@gmail.com