SAQ new pilot project a threat to public health, warns Québec Solidaire MNA

The Société des alcools du Québec (SAQ) is launching a new pilot project that would allow select grocery stores and convenience stores in the Montreal area to sell some of its products.

SAQ is calling the pilot project “micro agencies”, and it aims to make alcohol more accessible according to how people shop, they say.

Québec Solidaire MNA for Hochelaga Maisonneuve, Alexandre Leduc reacted to the idea by stating that access to strong liquor until 11 p.m. could endanger public health.

“Access to strong liquor until 11 p.m. in a lot of places in downtown, in my neighbourhood, in other places of Montreal, but eventually in other regions as well as the Quebec province, it’s not necessarily a good idea,” said Leduc. “Maybe a good idea for having more profit for the SAQ, but not necessarily a good idea from a public health point of view.”

The pilot project was initially introduced in May. For the past month, the Oda Market in Outremont, the IGA Duke downtown, a Dépanneur Voisin in Montreal-North, the Adonis in Laval, the Maxi Côte-des-Neiges and a Couche-Tard in Longueuil have been offering about 30 SAQ products, including spirits.

“I’m not sure the concept of mini agency is a good way to go because when you go in an SAQ store, there’s a professional trained to advise you, trained to see if you’re in a good condition to be drinking more, if I could say that,” said Leduc.

Montreal’s regional director of public health Mylène Drouin wrote a letter in reply to Leduc that said evidence shows that more accessibility increases health impacts related to alcohol.

34 of these micro-agencies will open across other parts of the province as well. The SAQ is aiming to open around 100 by next year.

CityNews reached out to the SAQ for comment but did not immediately hear back.