Let convenience stores sell alcohol: group

The president of the Canadian Convenience Stores Association says it's time to allow retailers in New Brunswick to sell beer, wine and other alcohol products.

Alex Scholten said his association made the request to the New Brunswick government about three months ago and had the initial consultation with N.B. Liquor.

"We have asked also for a meeting with the New Brunswick Liquor Commission which we had some initial consultation, but we haven't heard anything back," he said Tuesday.

Retailers are already trained to check for identification, Scholten said, and convenience stores would be able to make liquor products more readily available to consumers because stores have longer and more varied hours.

"The Canadian Convenience Stores Association and the Atlantic Convenience Stores Association has an age verification program we use to train retailers on what their appropriate requirements or what they should do to sell age restricted products our retailers are very responsible," he said.