While the sale of alcohol at convenience stores and gas stations may be seen as convenient by some, the potential long term damage to communities remains a serious concern.
Selling alcohol at these locations could increase numerous issues, from public safety concerns to underage drinking to alcohol-related health issues.
One of the most alarming concerns is the impact on public safety, more specifically drunk driving. Gas stations by their true nature are linked to the act of driving. By making alcohol available at these locations, we are advertising a wrong image to consumers. On one hand we emphasize the danger of drunk driving, while on the other we are placing alcohol in the exact same spots where individuals are getting ready to drive.
According to a 2023 article released by CTV NEWS, the OPP reveals 49 people died from alcohol or drug-related crashes and nearly 400 people died in motor vehicle collisions with more than 10,000 impaired driving charges laid out. The Centre for Addiction and Mental Health in Toronto also wasn’t fond of this decision, voicing there is already more than 6,000 alcohol related deaths a year in Ontario. Adding that due to the changes that’s been put to action, numbers will increase.
Another serious concern is the potential for underage drinking. Convenience stores and gas stations are places where minors visit, whether it’s to grab snacks or fuel up a vehicle. Employees often overwhelmed by multitasking in fast-paced environments may fail to check identification as often as they would in a specialized liquor store setting like LCBO.
When watching the news we witness many violent robberies taking place in the U.S. With the most recent one being a scheme to steal $72,000 worth of alcohol from a Fairfax county ABC store in Washington, D.C., where three minors have been charged. Early this summer three minors and a man loaded up carts filled with alcohol and took off in vehicles before the police arrived on the scene.
In Canada, a recent act of theft in Saskatoon, had a 15-year-old arrested and charged after attempting to steal alcohol from a liquor store. Both incidents involve minors attempting to steal alcohol, this highlights the issue of juvenile crime.
Whether in the U.S or Canada young people are engaging in illegal behavior like targeting alcohol stores even though they are too young to purchase it legally.
Police said when suspects were confronted by a security guard one of the suspects threatened the guard with a knife before fleeing the area. John Atkinson, executive director of The Ontario Public Health Association told CTV News Toronto more harm is caused as alcohol consumption rises. Harms such as cancer disease, street or domestic violence, road crashes and thefts.
When alcohol is sold in an environment where people often shop for everyday essentials, it normalizes casual and frequent consumption. This normalization can lead to an increase of binge drinking and alcohol dependency, which is linked to health problems such as liver disease, cancer and mental health disorders like depression and anxiety.
For those trying to quit or manage their drinking, having alcohol available at every moment makes it harder for them to avoid temptation. The LCBO is the designed location to purchase alcohol but alcohol in environments like gas stations and convenience stores could be destructive to recovery efforts.
Selling alcohol at gas stations and convenience stores is a misguided decision that prioritizes profit and convenience over public safety and community health.
The risk it poses such as drunk driving, underage drinking and health issues are too severe to just ignore. The message should be clear, we should never choose convenience if it risks harming our well-being as a community.