Photo-ID issue was about showing common sense

Posted on July 6, 2014 in Editorials // 0 Comments

A good time was had by all at Canada Day, though there
was this thing about ID at the beer garden.

SUNDAY MORNING EDITORIAL — Reaction to the Armchair Mayor column in Saturday’s edition of the A.M. News predominantly wonders about the application of common sense in the enforcement of B.C.’s liquor laws.

The specific situation described in the column involved the Canada Day beer garden in Riverside Park. A 67-year-old resident was refused entry because she wasn’t carrying photo ID. (She did, by the way, have other, non-photo ID with her.)

Exactly why the requirement for photo ID was so strictly enforced is unclear but comments made at the time indicate it was an all-or-nothing matter. That is, somebody in the process was uncomfortable with selective enforcement even though the Justice Ministry confirmed for the A.M. News that it’s acceptable.

(Let us hasten to add that Folkfest and Art in the Park once again combined to make for an amazing Canada Day, and the many who worked to make it a success deserve full credit. This is about liquor laws and how they’re enforced.)

If the reason for enforcing the photo-ID rule was so young people wouldn’t feel discriminated against, such sensitivity is misdirected.

Security staff at any event where liquor is served have to be able to use judgment in order to be both fair and efficient. Denying a senior citizen entry to an event based on the legal-drinking-age law is quite ridiculous.

B.C.’s liquor laws have been under review and revisions are coming into effect almost weekly. Reforming liquor laws doesn’t do much good if the enforcement of them isn’t handled with good judgment.