The Economic and Social Consequences of Liquor Privatization in Western Canada
Saskatchewan’s public liquor system is superior to both Alberta and British Columbia’s private liquor delivery system in terms of price, revenue generation and the mitigation of social harm. That is the conclusion of a new collaborative report by the Saskatchewan office of the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives and the Parkland Institute. Impaired Judgement: The Economic and Social Consequences of Liquor Privatization in Western Canada authored by University of Alberta public finance economist Greg Flanagan and Parkland Public Policy Research Manager David Campanella is a comparative study of liquor systems in Saskatchewan, Alberta and British Columbia. The authors conclude that the full privatization of liquor stores in Alberta and the partial privatization in British Columbia have resulted in higher prices, lower revenues for government and increased social harms in comparison to Saskatchewan’s public system.
