The province of Alberta is making it easier for people to have a drink in the great outdoors..The UCP government introduced Wednesday Bill 2 – updates to the Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis Act – which will allow for the open consumption of liquor in all provincial parks..The move also allows the owners of private parks and cities to allow drinking in designated areas without people having to buy food..The government last year relaxed public drinking rules in 14 provincial parks. This moves will make the changes to all of them along with privately and city-owned parks..“This is the concept of getting out of the way of the fun of adults having a beer,” said Grant Hunter, associate minister of red tape reduction,.“We actually trust adult Albertans to make good decisions.”.The bill also offers hope for those in two Alberta dry counties who may soon be able to imbibe..Residents of Cardston County and portions of the County of Warner No. 5, will be able to decide whether they want to remove a 1950s era prohibition imposed by the province..The amendments also include providing a single, streamlined process for municipalities and Metis settlements to respond to an application for a liquor licence in a community that does not already have one. .Government will continue to review and modernize legislation, regulations and policy as part of the ongoing commitment to reduce red tape, and additional action will soon be taken to further improve the regulations surrounding Alberta’s liquor laws, the government said in a release..Dave Naylor is the News Editor of the Western Standard.dnaylor@westernstandardonline.com.Twitter: Nobby7694
