#freethebeer

[piedmontbrewery-blog]

Cheers to all of our fellow Georgia craft breweries on the end of archaic beer laws! The beer has been freed as of today and we couldn't be happier for our craft industry and our statewide consumers! Time to celebrate! #sb85 #freethebeer (at Piedmont Brewery & Kitchen)

[reggiefaer]

This buds NOT for you. #freethebeer #louisvilletattooartsconvention #villainarts #travelingperformer #kentucky #nobeerforus (at Louisville Tattoo Arts Convention)

[piedmontbrewery-blog]

#freethebeer #sb85 #sbochocinco #supportyourlocalbrewery #gacraftbeer #drinklocal http://beerguysradio.com/2017/01/26/georgia-beer-bill-law-sb85/

[wantswishesandwhims]

#FreeTheBeer

Imagine a person travelling across a provincial border minding their own business, no criminal intentions in mind, just driving across the border to a neighbouring province. The purpose of their solo trip is to a buy some beer because the beer back home is way too expensive for their wallet and the prices in the neighbouring province are more competitive and more attractive to the consumer. They buy 14 cases of beer, two bottles of whisky and a bottle of liqueur, to be exact, and head home. On their way home, the national police of the country pulls them over at the border, charges the driver for illegally importing alcohol back to his province, seizes all of the alcohol, and gives a fine of $292.50

Oh. Hold up. Imagine no more!

This actually happened in 2012 and it happened to a guy named Gerard Comeau. .

I don’t know about you but I find this strange.

I’m going to rephrase a comment I found on CBC’s website regarding this issue: Goods like food and drinks can be brought in through the national border from countries like the US and Mexico with no problem whatsoever but Canadians at home cannot import beers from another province to take home to their province.

I wholeheartedly agree with this commenter. This is probably the main reason why it’s strange to me.

Why is it illegal for a Canadian to buy their beer from a neighbouring province instead of their own? Well actually it’s illegal if the alcohol you bring across the border is more than one bottle of wine or spirits, or 12 pints of beer. Across the New Brunswick border.

Why does New Brunswick have such a law? Why are there restrictions? What is the point of this law and what is the point of restrictions?

I don’t know where I’m going with this. I have more questions than I have information.

It doesn’t seem logical for that law to exist.

We as citizens of Canada have the right to bring our goods from one province to another province. It says so in Section 121 of the Constitution Act: "All articles of the growth, produce or manufacture of any of the provinces shall, and from and after the Union, be admitted free into each of the other provinces."

New Brunswick’s law of limiting the amount of alcohol Canadians bring through their borders and the consequences, being charged, being fined, and being deprived of the purchased goods, violates Section 121 of the Constitution Act.

I’m also wondering about the big cost difference of beer and liquor in New Brunswick compared to a province like Québec that sells the same product for a cheaper price. But that’s another topic to investigate.

There are others who share Comeau’s issues about bringing in cases of beer from across the border. Their shared issues made it to the House of Commons by Dan Albas, a member of the Conservative Party. He and Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development (long title) Navdeep Bains are enthusiastic to “welcome expended opportunities for alcohol between provinces and territories.”

Isn’t it lovely when opposing parties get along and agree on something they are both passionate about seeing through successfully like freeing the beer?

It’s a headache-less process! Amazing! I wish it happens more often.

But seriously, who would oppose? What would be the downsides of making appropriate changes to the trade laws of New Brunswick that violates Canadians’ rights?

Comeau challenged the law and now good things are coming out of it.

He was certainly pleased. "After three years, I'm thirsty," he said outside the court.​

The funny thing is that not a lot of people are familiar with these laws. Not a lot of people are certain about the legal amount of any type of alcohol they are allowed to bring back to their province.

It makes me wonder what other funky laws we have in this country no one knows about until they get caught red-handed. Another topic to investigate.

~

I literally have a list of potential topics i wanna write about but current news like free the beer are too juicy and tempting and i end up writing about them current news instead of my potential topics and i just keep drifting away from that list and that list is growing too so the pressure is climbing ahhhh

Today’s article was supposed to be titled “Counting Down to Pride Month” and i would write about pride but nooooo i was seduced by free the beer

It’s not really a bad thing tho

My next one will be about pride:D for sure !! I SWEAR IT and i’ll create a new title or something

Lmao and wtf this is technically my second time mentioning some type of alcohol in my writing

Nice

Anyways

So i think this is the first article i’ve written after spending a copious amount (to me anyway) researching !!! omg i watched clips from the house of commons, clips from the local news, clips with experts talking, it was nice it was nice and i was quoting things and yea !!! i hope i did alright c:

It was fun !!!! i felt like a real journalist, somewhat:D

Thoughts, comments, opinions, just wanna say heeeey?? Shoot me a message

I’m serious tho, be like “*BANG* heey”

I lovee feedback +ve or -ve

-M.M.