OK, these are the idiots we need to emulate with health care.

Canada wants to severly increase liquor taxes because alcohol causes too many problems. But it’s not about the money you understand, it’s for health. But this might bring problems with our less fortunate crowd.

VANCOUVER — Alcohol is the cheapest drug in B.C., says a report released Thursday by the Centre for Addictions Research, which recommends a hike in liquor prices to reduce illness and injuries…

…It can cost as little as 58 cents for a single-serving drink in B.C. liquor stores, meaning it costs as little as $2.32 for an average woman to exceed national guidelines for daily consumption and as little as $2.80 for an average man, said the report. The report authors looked at the price of every one of the 5,506 products on liquor store shelves in the province and the price of a standard drink ranged from 58 cents to $994.

"There's quite a lot of very cheap drinks out there," said lead researcher Tim Stockwell.

He said raising the price to a $1.50 minimum could have a major impact on everything from hospital visits and traffic accidents, to venereal disease.

"I know it's not a very popular thing to say, but it's said in the interests of public health and safety," he added.

Of course, it’s never about the money.

The study said the lowest prices for wines, beers and ciders in B.C. are much lower than in Saskatchewan and Ontario.

…Stockwell said there is plenty of evidence around the world to show that when the price of alcohol goes up, the negative consequences go down. He said there's also evidence that heavier drinkers often use cheaper alcohol.

Cool, show the evidence. My experience has been is someone wants booze they will buy it whatever the price or they will make it.

Canada is one of the few countries in the world to set minimum prices for liquor, and Stockwell said B.C. raises the price regularly for spirits but beer, wine and coolers are often left alone.

But only for the taxpayers. They will take care of the non taxpaying crowd.

…At the same time, researchers at centre at the University of Victoria recommend setting up a type of safe-drinking program offering free alcohol to homeless alcoholics to reduce their use of hazardous sources such as rubbing alcohol or mouthwash...

…He agreed there's a concern that by raising the price of alcohol those who can't afford it may go to the less expensive, and far more damaging, rubbing alcohol, antifreeze and mouthwash to drink.

That's why the study also recommend a controlled access program that gives free alcohol to homeless alcoholics.

"These are ghastly things, they're terrible things for their bodies," he said of the non-beverage alcohol. "If you're addicted and you're getting withdrawal symptoms ... people will get desperate and they'll do desperate things."

Gee people will do what they need to do to get booze. So Mr John Taxpayer gets to get his cost of drinks tripled to we can pay a new bureaucracy to buy booze for homeless. How much you wanna bet 90% will pay for the staffing of the agency and 10% will go for the booze.

Typical leftist stupidity…I have no doubt B Hussein Obama et all will be pushing it soon!