Cabinet orders crackdown on alcohol

Cabinet on Tuesday approved a number of initiatives that will soon be translated into legislation. Heading the list is a crackdown on the freewheeling sale of alcohol. Police and the nation’s liquor licensing boards have been instructed to take immediate action against those establishments selling outside of what their licenses permit, while at the same time the Attorney General will draft amendments to increase the legal penalties of violations of existing laws. Of particular concern was the common practice of grocery stores selling liquor that is then illegally consumed on the premises. While no mention was made of the easy access to bars enjoyed by minors, it is presumed that this practice will also be curtailed.

Cabinet also approved the introduction of legislation allowing alternative sentencing for certain categories of crime. The courts will be given the power to sentence first time offenders to community service instead of hard time at Hattieville. That service, which can also be imposed on “deadbeat dads”, can range from community work at charitable or public institutions to heavy labour like chopping bush or cleaning garbage along the nation’s streets and highways.