The Ontario government has just made it easier for its citizens to make a donation for tsumani disaster relief. They are now accepting donations at all liquor and beer stores. I think it is a neat idea. It has been done before and other provinces are doing the same right now, but I never really thought about the concept until now.
In Ontario, alcohol can only be purchased in stores/outlets that are owned by the provincial government. Beer is sold in stores named "The Beer Store", liquor, wine and beer at stores named "LCBO" (Liquor Control Board of Ontario). How tourists are expected to figure out what LCBO means is beyond me, but the system has worked for many years.
Anyhow, the government operates 1,300 beer, liquor and wine stores. Just about every small town at least has a Beer Store. It actually is a perfect way to give people an easy way to make a donation. Everyone has a beer or liquor store nearby, and it seems like a lot of people visit them regularly anyways. There are very few companies that have that kind of presence across the province. Sure, everyone goes to the grocery store, but different towns have different companies. The TD Bank is seems to be omnipresent, but it is a pain in the ass to go into a bank these days.
The Beer Store says that it will also allow/encourage its patrons to donate the money from their empty returns to the fund. Apparently January is their busiest month for empties, so they think it is a great opportunity to generate some donations.
I've written before about my thoughts on how alcohol is such an accepted part of society. I am ambivalent at best on the subject, but at least it is producing some benefit to the world.
Here is a link:
Toronto Star article. I've just linked to the Ontario page, as direct article links are often time sensitive with them. Just scroll down the page to "Beer, liquor stores to accept donations".
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