Sabine El-Chidiac - What's Wrong With The LCBO?

The Curious Task

Alex speaks with Sabine El-Chidiac about the Liquor Control Board of Ontario (LCBO), exploring its historical context, operational inefficiencies, and the potential for reforming its structure. Sabine draws on her co-authored report to outline economic benefits and practical reforms, while also critiquing the LCBO's moral and historical failings. The conversation highlights broader themes of government overreach, consumer choice, and economic modernization.

References

1. Sabine's article in the Spec entitled "The LCBO is an archaic system with an ugly history": https://www.thespec.com/opinion/contributors/the-lcbo-is-an-archaic-system-with-an-ugly-history/article_4d18e1c1-2080-5c7d-be29-7ff72e3bba60.html?utm_medium=social&utm_source=copy-link&utm_campaign=user-share

2. "Modernizing Ontario’s Alcohol Retail System" by Sabine El-Chidiac and David Clement
   https://consumerchoicecenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Modernize_Ontario_Report.pdf

3. "Alcohol: No Ordinary Commodity" by Thomas Babor et al.
   https://global.oup.com/academic/product/alcohol-no-ordinary-commodity-9780199551149

4. LCBO Historical Documents
   https://www.archives.gov.on.ca/en/index.aspx

5. "Alcohol: Science, Policy and Public Health" by Peter Boyle et al.
   https://a.co/d/eoBTcI9

6. Ontario Cannabis Store (OCS) Wholesale Model
   https://ocs.ca/

7. "Free to Choose: A Personal Statement" by Milton Friedman and Rose Friedman
   https://www.amazon.ca/Free-Choose-Personal-Statement-Milton/dp/0156334607

8. Alberta Gaming, Liquor, and Cannabis (AGLC) Model
   https://aglc.ca/

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