I should clarify that the monopoly is on the sale of grain based alcohol. There are private wine stores and a few that sell grape based spirits like brandy and cognac (Fenton's at the Forks Market being my favorite) but I really don't know if and how many hurdles they have to jump through to set up shop.
I know there are other provinces (and stores in the U.S.) that have different and sometimes more selection with a competitive market but that's not my reasoning behind the hate...
My first reason is that private individuals, who have an interest in and would like sell liquor as their career, can't because the government has taken away that right (unless you want to sell wine or other grape based liquors). Only the Manitoba Liquor Control Commission is allowed to sell beer, scotch, rum etc...
Second reason, is that it reduces choice for the consumer. I love what a competitive market can do for competing businesses that sell similar products. As a consumer, I like choice. Buying booze here in Manitoba? Not so much choice...but we should. People like their booze and should have the option to shop around for variety and best price, our government refuses to give us that choice.
Third reason, in my not so humble opinion, we are grossly overcharged for our liquor, which is a typical result when there is monopoly control. I don't want to hear any garbage about the exchange rate and transport rates. Case #1: I like tequila. I like Patron tequila. A few months ago, I saw Patron tequila in the MB Liquor Mart behind a locked display case for about $120 (price has come down a little with favorable exchange). I was in Grand Forks with my family and stopped in at Happy Harry's. I found Patron on sale for $35/bottle ($45 reg price). No specialty display case, just on a regular shelf with the rest of them. I bought two for roughly 2/3 the cost of one bottle here....yeah pretty bad. Case #2: Lets go west then to Alberta...surely their prices must be similar to ours? No...
As my title suggests, I like scotch. I have people that regularly go out there and bring back scotch at prices much lower than what we have here. Bottles sold for $110 here can often be $20-$30 less in Alberta. Why? Because there is a competing market for it...
I work in supply chain so I know transport can vary, but it certainly doesn't cost $20 extra per bottle to ship scotch here as opposed to Alberta. Grand Forks is less than 3hrs south of us. How can their tequila cost over $70 less PER BOTTLE! At the time the exchange rate was probably 1.07 or so, not enough to justify this price difference.
Once again I will ring the bell for a call to liberty, a call for choice. The right to sell in the market and the right as private citizens to buy from the supplier that we want. Should that not be a right of all people that live in a country that calls itself free?
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