It's just common sense to expect negative outcomes
TORONTO, April 9, 2014 /CNW/ - A group of community-based organizations came to Queen's Park today to tell MPPs from all three political parties that when it comes to alcohol sales deregulation, it's just not worth the risk.
"Our stand against privatization/deregulation goes back to 1994; we strongly oppose the retailing of beer, wine and alcohol at convenience stores or gas stations," said arrive alive DRIVE SOBER Executive Director Anne Leonard.
"I think for most Ontarians this is just common sense. These products cannot be sold as safely in 15,000 convenience stores and gas stations as they can be in controlled environments, with trained staff, such as the LCBO and the Beer Store."
Leonard was joined by a total of three community groups. She spoke at a press conference along with Gwyn Chapman of Parents 4 Safe Communities, Matt Evans of Ontario Students Against Impaired Driving, and Carol Fagan, whose son Ciaran was killed in 2009 in an alcohol-related crash.
Leonard pointed out that Ontario has more than 9 million licensed drivers and still our roads rank safest in North America almost every year. Ontario's alcohol-involved fatality rate fell from 439 in 1988 to 129 in 2009, a decrease of 70 per cent; she added "these gains shouldn't be put at risk".
Press Conference Participants:
Image with caption: "arrive alive DRIVE SOBER - arrivealive.org (CNW Group/arrive alive DRIVE SOBER)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20140409_C9153_PHOTO_EN_39042.jpg
SOURCE: arrive alive DRIVE SOBER
OR TO ARRANGE INTERVIEWS CONTACT:
Anne Leonard - [email protected]; 416-485-4411; or via Twitter: @drivesober
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