Ministerial responsibility for liquor within the BC government has been changed from Shirley Bond (previously Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General, now Minister of Justice) to Rich Coleman (Minister of Energy and Mines). Coleman was the minister responsible for the liquor portfolio prior to Bond\’s appointment and had been the responsible minister for many years under the Liberals. The liquor portfolio includes both the Liquor Distribution Branch (which comprises its retail arm, BC Liquor Stores, and its wholesale arm) as well as the Liquor Control and Licensing Branch (licensing and enforcement). Both of those branches will now move from the Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General to the Ministry of Energy and Mines. During the Liberals\’ leadership campaign, Coleman made comments that certain aspects of the liquor system needed reform. Since that time, both the media and the public have increasingly been requesting reform of many aspects of BC\’s outdated liquor laws.
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