Ending Saskatchewan’s Prohibition-Era Approach to Liquor Stores

Policy Series, Crown Corporations, Dave Snow

This report analyzes the state of Saskatchewan’s approach to alcohol sales at the retail and wholesale level. It finds that alcohol sold at private outlets is not more expensive, doesn’t result in higher consumption and that public monopolies do not prevent alcohol-related crime or social harm. In fact, a province such as Saskatchewan with much government retailing and the lowest overall sales and consumption rates in the country has the highest, second-highest or third-highest rates of alcohol-related harm with respect to friendships, marriage, work, studies, employment, finances, legal problems and physical violence.