Richard Gleeson
Northern News Services
Yellowknife (Jun 20/01) - "It's been just like beating my head against a wall," said Jody Cogdale of his attempts to convince the government to enact changes that would allow him to expand his business.
The owner and operator of the Brew Den, which sells beer and wine-making kits, wants to offer people the option of making their wine at his Airport Road business.
Cogdale said a U-brew operation would provide those who don't have room to brew in their own homes the increased selection, novelty and lower costs that come with wine production.
Though the NWT Liquor Act permits people to brew beer and wine in their homes and allows brew pubs to sell products made on site, a catch-all clause in the act prohibits any liquor-related activity not expressly permitted. The act makes no mention of brewing on retail premises.
Cogdale said he recognizes such a business would have to be regulated and that he would welcome liquor inspectors in at any time. He said he would require his customers to possess a brewing permit, a legal requirement for home-brewing but one the liquor board rarely enforces.
"The NWT is the only place in Canada where you need a permit to brew in your own home," he said. "And I think I'm the only guy in the NWT with one." The number atop Cogdale's brewing permit is 00-001.
The Yukon, British Columbia and Ontario allow brewing on premises.
From the response Cogdale has received from cabinet so far, brewing on premises is not going to happen here any time soon.
A reply to a letter to Premier Stephen Kakfwi says simply the premier has no comment, and Finance Minister Joe Handley has shown as little interest.
"My whole business and my whole livelihood rests on Joe Handley's shoulders and he won't meet with me," Cogdale said.
The government spelled out its reasons for not considering the changes Cogdale has called for in an April 17 letter from deputy finance minister Margaret Melhorn: legalizing U-brews could lead to increased bootlegging, minors may be involved in the process and they offer no tax revenue.
No evidence was offered to support the reasoning. Cogdale said that's because there isn't any, something he offered in a detailed response to the letter.
Cogdale has a measure of popular support for the expansion -- a petition signed by more than 300 people, but his hopes are waning.
"I think what it is is they've got bigger fish to fry," he said. "I'm just a small businessman trying to make a living."
