VOLUNTARY BEER BOTTLE BAN OFFERED TO NORTHERN COMMUNITIES

A pilot project to ban the sale of beer in glass bottles in La Loche has been deemed a success and will be extended to other northern communities that request a ban.

The Saskatchewan Liquor and Gaming Authority (SLGA) will ban the sale of beer in glass bottles at its liquor stores, franchises and commercial permittees in the Northern Administration District communities where municipal resolutions are passed requesting a ban.

"Some northern community leaders have raised concerns about the sale of glass beer bottles," Minister responsible for SLGA Eric Cline said. "We are very pleased to be able to assist them in meeting their goals of promoting safety and reducing injuries, litter and property damage."

In April 2002, SLGA instituted a pilot project to ban the sale of beer in glass bottles in the liquor store and licensed establishments in La Loche. Community leaders in La Loche requested the ban to help address concerns about litter, injuries and property damage caused by glass beer bottles.

"Community leaders in La Loche and our research have indicated that the pilot project and the bottle ban had no negative impact on sales by commercial permittees or SLGA," Cline said. "But more importantly, the ban has had the desired effect by significantly reducing broken glass litter in the community and resulting in fewer glass injuries for residents."

"I know that there have been other northern communities anxiously awaiting the results of the pilot project," Northern Affairs Minister Buckley Belanger said. "I am happy to hear the glass beer bottle ban was a succcess and that it is being offered to other communities in the North."

La Loche Mayor Georgina Jolibois said the success of the pilot project means La Loche will continue to ban glass beer bottles.

"Banning the sale of beer bottles has resulted in a cleaner, safer and healthier community," Jolibois said. "La Loche is a better place without glass beer bottles."

Canada's National Brewers (CNB) worked with SLGA on the originial pilot project in La Loche and supports beer bottle bans in northern Saskatchewan.

"Ensuring our products are sold and consumed in a socially responsible matter is important to our industry," CNB-West President Greg D'Avignon said. "We're pleased to be a part of this solution for these northern Saskatchewan communities."

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For More Information, Contact:

David Morris Saskatchewan Liquor and Gaming Authority Regina Phone: (306)787-1721	Georgina Jolibois Mayor of La Loche Phone: (306)822-2032
Marko Dekovic Canada's National Brewers Phone: (604)659-2739