Nova Scotia rejects minimum drink prices

Nova Scotia won't force bars to end their $1-a-shot drink specials, despite a recommendation by a government committee looking at the problem of excessive drinking.

Justice Minister Cecil Clarke said Friday he will fund four more police officers for the night shift in Halifax and hire more inspectors to enforce liquor regulations.

But he won'tset a minimum drink price for bars.

A government committee struck to look into the issue of high-risk drinking recommended that bars berequired to charge at least $2.50 for a shot of liquor or a beer.

Clarke said the problem of discount booze is limited to a few Halifax bars, so setting a minimum price might hurt legions or other small clubs outside the city.

However, he's not ruling it out.

"I'm not in any way, shape or form against a new amount," said Clarke. "We just need to make sure we have not hurt any organization or communities outside of Halifax."

The issue of cheap drinks made headlines late last year after dozens of brawlers spilled out of a downtown bar and into the street. Police arrested 38 people.

Just a few days earlier, a patron was taken to hospital after he was punched by a bouncer.

The Dome lost it liquor licence for a few days. The suspension was lifted after it promised to drop its $1-a-drink special and beef up security.

Some bars in Halifax continue to advertise $1 drinks.

In its report,made publicFriday, the committee said $2.50 was a "good balance" between $1 drinks and regular prices, and fell within the range of minimum drink prices in six provinces.

The committee also said the hospitality industry would accept $2.50.

No rush: committee chair

Dr. Robert Strang, Nova Scotia's chief public health officer, chaired the committee, and said he understands the province's decision to take more time about minimum drink prices.

"They have to take the public safety and public health issues as part of their policy decision-making," Strang said.

"The extent of this is not huge. It certainly needs to be paid attention to, but I'm not overly concerned if it takes more time to get to an appropriate decision on this."

Strang is hoping bar owners themselves end $1 drinks.

Halifax Police Chief Frank Beazley is grateful for the extra police, but saida minimum drinkprice might make the job of those officers easier.

"You get young people going in and they get into power drinking and doing the things that they do and they get so intoxicated that they're out of control,"Beazley said.

"I don't have some scientific study, but in my mind, the cheaper the drink, the more people in the bars getting drunker and then coming out and finding themselves in situations. Safety is what it's all about, really, downtown."

Beazleysaid the four extra officers will target any bar that advertises $1-a-drink nights to ensure those bars are following the rules.