I had mixed feelings when I heard last week that the Nova Scotia government planned to survey 1,500 of us to hear our views about expanding booze sales to retail outlets like grocery and corner stores.

That is the way that much of the country seems to be going. Quebec and Newfoundland and Labrador have certain types of hooch available in convenience stores. In Ontario, Premier Doug Ford controversially announced last year that he plans to speed up the sale of beer, wine and ready-made cocktails in corner stores and additional supermarkets.

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Liquor taxes help pay for the services that make our lives comfortable. The free marketers among us would argue that competition among retailers makes everyone pull up their socks, which is good for consumers.

I am a lazy man and would welcome not having to get into the car because I felt like a can of Keith’s.

On the other hand, even though Nova Scotians are by Canadian standards moderate imbibers, Statistics Canada figures from 2023-2024 show that