Distilled Liquor Co. in Lethbridge. (Lethbridge News Now)

By David Opinko

AGLC red tape reduction target reached two years early

Jul 5, 2021 | 10:28 AM

LETHBRIDGE, AB – Alberta Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis (AGLC) says it has reached its ambitious goal way ahead of schedule.

A media release from the Alberta Government says the group removed “unnecessary restrictions on liquor sales, promoted responsible and safe drinking in designated parks and helped many businesses survive the recent pandemic.”

Associate Minister of Red Tape Reduction and Cardston-Taber-Warner MLA Grant Hunter says 7,500 pieces of red tape have been eliminated, or about one-third.

“These changes open up new ways for Albertans to consume alcohol safely and responsibly while giving our hard-working businesses more ways to serve their customers. A great outcome of our work with AGLC supported many restaurants that had to adapt quickly during the recent pandemic.”

Some of the key initiatives undertaken include:

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• Enabling restaurants and other liquor licensees to sell liquor with takeout and delivery orders
• Allowing Albertans to enjoy alcoholic beverages in designated parks
• Accommodating liquor distributors to host virtual tastings
• Supporting liquor manufacturers to offer complimentary sealed liquor samples for consumption at home
• Consolidating, updating, and removing duplicate and overlapping policy requirements for raffle events

“Through our commitment to support government’s red tape reduction efforts, AGLC exceeded our 2020-21 fiscal year goal and by the end of this year, AGLC will have met our target of 33 per cent – two years ahead of schedule,” adds AGLC Board Chair Len Rhodes. “These modernization efforts demonstrate our deep commitment to a modern regulatory environment that supports consumer choice, innovation and economic growth.”

The red tape reduction goal set for the AGLC was initially set to be competed by 2023.