Mayor and Premier trade 'fun police' jabs over Stampede noise rules and liquor prices

Mayor Jeromy Farkas and Premier Danielle Smith traded public jabs over the weekend about who is constraining Albertans' freedom to have fun, as a debate over Stampede noise rules collided with criticism of the province's recent liquor pricing changes.

On Sunday morning, June 21, Farkas called out the provincial government for raising minimum drink prices at bars and restaurants just ahead of the Calgary Stampede. The Alberta Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis Commission (AGLC) increased minimum prices on June 9: draught beer minimum rose to $0.25 per ounce from $0.16, putting the minimum price of a 20-ounce pint at $5, up from $3.20 — a 60 per cent increase. Bottled and canned beer, cider, and coolers increased to $4 per 12-ounce container from $2.75.

"Looks like the fun police have struck again in Alberta, this time targeting people trying to enjoy a pint," Farkas wrote on social media. "This last minute hike before Stampede will raise the minimum price of a beer from $3.20 to $5, a 60 per cent increase. The provincial government will negatively affect thousands of workers and create additional problems for bars and restaurants already facing higher costs."

Farkas's comments mirrored criticism Smith levelled at city hall a day earlier. On Saturday, June 20, the premier criticized Calgary's handling of noise regulations affecting Stampede tents and live music venues, saying the city's reduced allowable noise levels and earlier closing times on weeknights would hurt workers and create public safety issues due to compressed crowd exits.

"Looks like the fun police have struck again in Calgary, this time targeting the Calgary Stampede music scene," Smith posted, sharing a column from Penny Lane Entertainment CEO Paul Vickers published by Postmedia.