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<br><br> jQuery("img#storyphoto.tabClick" .click(function() {<br><br> tabClick(' - Photos Tab',false,'storypage','story_photo_content',true,true);<br><br> ); B.C. government liquor stores like this one on Bute Street in Vancouver may soon be getting competition from grocery stores if consumers have their way. A report on updating the province's liquor laws was presented Monday. Photograph by: Mark van Manen, PNG files<br><br> , The Province For the four European students sitting Tuesday near the MarketPlace grocery store on Burrard and Smithe streets, it was a no-brainer. Should wine and beer be sold in B.C. supermarkets? Of course, they chimed. "They should sell it everywhere," said Switzerland's Giuliana Gruber, 20, "just like everywhere else in the world." <br><br>It is a reality that could soon happen. On Monday, John Yap, parliamentary secretary for liquor policy reform, submitted a report to Justice Minister Suzanne Anton containing recommendations on how B.C. should update its antiquated liquor policies. <br><br>After reviewing the report, Anton will present it to cabinet before it's made public. A government official said that the report's public release might not be until December or January, although some details might be released later this week. <br><br>The result of extensive, weeks-long consultation with the public and relevant stakeholders, it would be of little surprise if one of the recommendations relates to some sort of retail model for the sale of beer and wine in B.C. grocery stores. gw2 gold <br><br>Yap hinted as much in October when he reported that government was seriously considering doing this after hearing "strong support for liquor sales in groceries stores and the added convenience it would afford B. guild wars 2 gold C. families." <br><br>"There's no doubt that this would be a big shift in our province - so we will be ... carefully considering which model could work best for B.C., while taking into account all the concerns we've heard about the increased access to minors," he said in a statement at the time. <br><br>Should B.C. allow alcohol to be sold in grocery stores, the model that will most likely be followed, the government official said, will be a variation of the "store within a store," <br><br>Both provinces allow government liquor stores to operate within grocery stores, as long as they're in separated spaces with separate cash registers and operated by liquor authority employees, according to a B. guild wars 2 gold C. government release. <br><br>While critics of such a move have been vocal about the possible health impacts, the economic blow it could deal private liquor retailers and the potential that it would make it easier for minors to get their hands on booze, Gruber sees only positives. <br><br>"The age stays the same - you will still have to be ID'd," she noted, adding that in Switzerland the legal drinking age for cider, beer and wine is 16. "We can drink at 16 and we don't have more problems." <br><br>Other shoppers exiting the MarketPlace Tuesday liked the idea of being able to buy beer and wine while shopping for food. <br><br>"I think it is a bit old-fashioned not to sell it in grocery stores," said James Nopper. "I think it is a good idea." <br><br>Newfoundland native Aiden Brown agreed, noting grocery stores in his province sell liquor. <br><br>"For the consumer, it is convenient," he said. "You can buy your bread and a six-pack, too." <br><br>Some, however, like Sara McLaren, weren't as enthusiastic. As someone who has struggled with alcohol, she said she's against anything that makes it more readily available. <br><br>"I can choose to stay away from a liquor store, but I can't choose to stay away from a grocery store," she said. "For people who already have a disposition, I think it might be a problem." <br><br> twitter.com/cassidyolivier - with a file from The Canadian Press <br><br>Take our poll and comment online at theprovince.com or email us at . Include your name and address. <br> eeeeee
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