Islanders can now bring more alcohol into the province for their personal use.
Robert Henderson, the minister responsible for the P.E.I. Liquor Control Commission, says an individual can now take up to three litres of spirits, nine litres of wine, or 24.6 litres of beer.
The previous limits were 1.14 litres of spirits, two litres of wine or 24, 341-millilitre bottles of beer.
“This increase approved by government places our personal import limits in line with other provinces and territories,” the minister said.
The new limits are also now on par with the volume that an individual can take into Canada after paying a nominal amount of federal duty.
Henderson says the Liquor Control Commission continues to offer a special order service for Island residents to obtain liquor products not carried by the commission. There is no limit on an individual’s special orders, provided they are for their own personal use and consumption.
Henderson also announced changes in the house of private liquor store.
“Regarding the privately run liquor agency stores, P.E.I. had the most restrictive days of allowed operation in Atlantic Canada, and this included not allowing these stores to be open on any statutory holiday. With the changes put in place, these private stores, can if they so choose, be open to sell liquor every day except all day Good Friday, Easter Sunday and Christmas Day and not before 12 noon on Remembrance Day.”
There are seven private agency stores, of which Eldon, East Royalty, Morell, Murray Harbour and Kinkora are year-round operations, and Cavendish and Wood Islands are seasonal. The days of the year that these stores may open is now identical to Nova Scotia.
PEILCC corporate stores are not affected by this change and will continue to remain closed on statutory holidays.
And yet, people still find a way to get trashed, drive around, and kill people with their cars!