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Quaich1
Master Of Malts
Joined: 21 Apr 2012
Posts: 5749
Location: Ontario, Canada
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 Posted: Sat Jun 02, 2012 7:27 pm Post subject: Price diffs for single malt scotch bet. Canada, USA & Eu |
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There are many great single malt scotches available here in Canada at the LCBO. However, the same bottles are available in the USA for 20-40% cheaper and some of the prices in Europe for the same bottles are 50% cheaper. What's wrong with that scenario? The import laws are so strict here in Canada that you can't order bottles from the USA or Europe and are stuck with the local supplies and prices. Comments?
_________________
"Always carry a large flagon of whisky in case of snakebite and furthermore always carry a small snake."
W.C. Fields (1880-1946) |
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Blackadder
Master Of Malts
Joined: 31 Jan 2010
Posts: 1739
Location: UK
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| Posted: Sat Jun 02, 2012 9:26 pm Post subject: |
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| Tax in different countries can be resposible for the big price differences but i do feel for you with the LCBO set up, with no competition between sellers the LCBO probably dont offer many bargains. |
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bifter
Master Of Malts
Joined: 10 Apr 2012
Posts: 1403
Location: East Lothian
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| Posted: Sat Jun 02, 2012 10:04 pm Post subject: |
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Historically, high taxes on alcohol have probably been driven more by opportunism and greed than morality, however the Presbyterian ethic does seem to be creeping back in these days. In the UK prices are already much higher than on the continent, yet we are the ones with the greatest alcohol-related health and social problems. What's more, these problems are significantly worse in Scotland than in the rest of the UK despite identical pricing across the UK. Ergo one would make the logical assumption that the cause of these problems is a social one rather than to do with pricing. However the Scottish Government is now to introduce minimum pricing for alcohol as a moral response to our admittedly problematic relationship with alcohol. People much more eloquent than I have already summarised my views on the subject.
Firstly John Stuart Mill, author of On Liberty, who described the demonisation of alcohol, and excessive restrictions upon it, as:
| Quote: | | A theory of "social rights," the like of which probably never before found its way into distinct language--being nothing short of this--that it is the absolute social right of every individual, that every other individual shall act in every respect exactly as he ought; that whosoever fails thereof in the smallest particular, violates my social right, and entitles me to demand from the legislature the removal of the grievance. So monstrous a principle is far more dangerous than any single interference with liberty; there is no violation of liberty which it would not justify |
Secondly, C.S. Lewis, who penned God in the Dock, who warned of the dangers of morally driven excise:
| Quote: | | Of all tyrannies, a tyranny exercised for the good of its victims may be the most oppressive. It may be better to live under robber barons than under omnipotent moral busybodies. The robber baron's cruelty may sometimes sleep, his cupidity may at some point be satiated; but those who torment us for our own good will torment us without end for they do so with the approval of their own conscience. They may be more likely to go to Heaven yet at the same time likelier to make a Hell of earth. Their very kindness stings with intolerable insult. To be "cured' against one's will and cured of states which we may not regard as disease is to be put on a level of those who have not yet reached the age of reason or those who never will; to be classed with infants, imbeciles, and domestic animals. |
[/rant]
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"Whisky is liquid sunshine."
[George Bernard Shaw] |
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Quaich1
Master Of Malts
Joined: 21 Apr 2012
Posts: 5749
Location: Ontario, Canada
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| Posted: Sat Jun 02, 2012 10:20 pm Post subject: |
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| bifter wrote: | Historically, high taxes on alcohol have probably been driven more by opportunism and greed than morality, however the Presbyterian ethic does seem to be creeping back in these days. In the UK prices are already much higher than on the continent, yet we are the ones with the greatest alcohol-related health and social problems. What's more, these problems are significantly worse in Scotland than in the rest of the UK despite identical pricing across the UK. Ergo one would make the logical assumption that the cause of these problems is a social one rather than to do with pricing. However the Scottish Government is now to introduce minimum pricing for alcohol as a moral response to our admittedly problematic relationship with alcohol. People much more eloquent than I have already summarised my views on the subject.
Firstly John Stuart Mill, author of On Liberty, who described the demonisation of alcohol, and excessive restrictions upon it, as:
| Quote: | | A theory of "social rights," the like of which probably never before found its way into distinct language--being nothing short of this--that it is the absolute social right of every individual, that every other individual shall act in every respect exactly as he ought; that whosoever fails thereof in the smallest particular, violates my social right, and entitles me to demand from the legislature the removal of the grievance. So monstrous a principle is far more dangerous than any single interference with liberty; there is no violation of liberty which it would not justify |
Secondly, C.S. Lewis, who penned God in the Dock, who warned of the dangers of morally driven excise:
| Quote: | | Of all tyrannies, a tyranny exercised for the good of its victims may be the most oppressive. It may be better to live under robber barons than under omnipotent moral busybodies. The robber baron's cruelty may sometimes sleep, his cupidity may at some point be satiated; but those who torment us for our own good will torment us without end for they do so with the approval of their own conscience. They may be more likely to go to Heaven yet at the same time likelier to make a Hell of earth. Their very kindness stings with intolerable insult. To be "cured' against one's will and cured of states which we may not regard as disease is to be put on a level of those who have not yet reached the age of reason or those who never will; to be classed with infants, imbeciles, and domestic animals. |
[/rant] |
What a great post! I concur.
_________________
"Always carry a large flagon of whisky in case of snakebite and furthermore always carry a small snake."
W.C. Fields (1880-1946) |
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Fergie
Master Of Malts
Joined: 02 Dec 2006
Posts: 1755
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| Posted: Sun Jun 03, 2012 11:58 am Post subject: |
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| Quaich1 do you never go over the border to the US to stock up and save a few $'s |
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Quaich1
Master Of Malts
Joined: 21 Apr 2012
Posts: 5749
Location: Ontario, Canada
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| Posted: Sun Jun 03, 2012 3:08 pm Post subject: |
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| Fergie wrote: | | Quaich1 do you never go over the border to the US to stock up and save a few $'s |
I was over there yesterday as a matter of fact but didn't dare bring back any liquor. One day trips are allowed ZERO liquor return to Canada and after a longer stay only very very small amounts, one bottle for a week away I believe. Contraband at the border is a major offense and one can have their car impounded and face criminal charges.
_________________
"Always carry a large flagon of whisky in case of snakebite and furthermore always carry a small snake."
W.C. Fields (1880-1946) |
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