Ontario Official: Beer Is Too Expensive

Canadian official says, if elected, he'll seek to lower beer prices.

February 10, 2011

TORONTO - An Ontario Progressive Conservative official announced earlier this week that should he win the fall election, he would seek a reduction in the cost of beer, the Ottawa Citizen reports.

Earlier this week, PC party leader Tim Hudak eluded to a return to "a buck a beer," saying high beer prices are "one of the many things hitting Ontario families in the pocket."

And then, criticizing the ruling party, he said, "I ?? hear from people who say, 'Come on, I can??t even get a buck a beer in this province thanks to Dalton McGuinty??s policies.'"

Ontario ended its $24 per case pricing in late 2008, when Ontario Finance Minister Dwight Duncan asked the Liquor Control Board of Ontario (LCBO) to raise the minimum price to $25.60 (it currently stands at $25.95, excluding bottle deposits).

At the time, Duncan and the Board defended the increase, maintaining it would lower consumption.

"The concept is that if prices are low, consumption goes higher," LCBO spokesman Chris Layton said at the time. "People buy more and drink more."

Pursuant to mandate established in 1993, minimum beer and liquor prices in Ontario are established by the LCBO to help reduce overindulgence.

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