Satire, just another victim of government:
Ontario’s monopolistic booze retailer, the LCBO, is hosting a pop-up bar on Toronto’s Queen Street West featuring a popular chef, a DJ flying in from London, England — and absolutely no alcohol. […]
Senior communications consultant Silvana Aceto said Bar Zero is one part of a $1.47 million campaign that will include a TV commercial, digital and social media ads, and in-store signage as part of an attempt to promote non-alcoholic drinks.
“Well, this is the difference between truth and fiction. Fiction has to make sense.”
– Armin Mueller Stahl as ex-Stasi Colonel Wilhelm Wexler in The International (2009)
Strange idea. The way things are going in Ontario the only (legal) way left to cope would probably be alcohol. But then again our esteemed Leader said she is ‘sorry’ about hydro rates. That should make things better.
Ontario: Where government monopolies still feel the need to advertise.
The Ontarian likes the LCBO. If he was dissatisfied it would change.
I have never been to Russia but whenever I’m in a LCBO store I think of soviet style marketing. No selection, sour staff and no stores. You have to drive all over hell to find one.
I’m sure this event featuring a celeb chef is no unusual at all. There will be accolades and congratulations all around….
Hey, what’s not to like.
They had a meeting, figured how to get noticed, how to get bonus and they “bought in”.
If it seems bass ackward, hey why not. They no doubt went to school for a long time and been told that they are going to change the world.
Well, they are changing it. Nobody said anything about better of worse, change is the key.
Go forward for the brave new world.
Canadian Prohibition 2.0
As goes Ontario, so goes the nation. That’s how we got the firearms registry shoved down all of our throats.
As in the first Canadian prohibition, which likewise was pushed by Ontario too, I’ll be rooting for Quebec in this one.
Remember this story next time some some control enthusiast tells you how much “profit” the board returns to Ont coffers.
This is just a stark reminder of a bureaucracy that has far to many people with time on their hands. Rather than be a purveyor of wine and spirits at the lowest cost to consumers, there are dozens of marketing people who design glossy “free” magazines, manage gift shops, arrange music in pleasant back lit stores etc. Check out the list of VPs in marketing and advertising.
And why does a retail monopoly need to advertise alcohol drinks? It is not as if they have any significant competition.
Like any monopoly anywhere they will compete on every thing except price. A government monopoly in liquor sales, spending revenue to promote non-alcoholic beverages.Only in Ont could such lunacy flourish.
Tell ya one thing, if ever a government could drive one to drink, Ontario’s Wynne and her crew are it.
I wonder what the MCBO stores will do to promote their stuff.