N.S. sets minimum price for alcoholic drinks

The Nova Scotia government has created a minimum price for alcohol, ending the practice by downtown Halifax bars of offering dollar-a-drink nights.

This comes almost a year after a major brawl outside a Halifax nightclub, the Dome, also known locally as the Liquor Dome.

The bar's licence was suspended for a few days as a result of the fight, but the suspension was lifted after the Dome promised to drop its $1 drink specials and beef up security. Other bars in Halifax continued to advertise drinks for $1.

The minimum bars can now charge is $2.50 per serving, which is considered to be 12 ounces of beer, five ounces of wine, or one shot of liquor.

Workforce Development Minister Mark Parent said the minimum was set to encourage people to drink responsibly.

Earlier this month, a group of doctors in Halifax called on the province to set minimum drink prices in time for the holiday season.

The physicians at Dalhousie University Health Services say they're tired of dealing with alcohol-related injuries.

"There's a lot of evidence in our clinic that we see people after nights when there are the cheap drink nights. The students tell us where they're going to drink," said Dr. Katherine Robinson.