Ontario is just too addicted to the revenues that booze generates annually, and its LCBO monopoly will continue its stranglehold over all of us for many years to come.

I see Watson as a bright light in the Liberal government, a rising star who has strategically mapped out a perfect political career built on integrity and has landed smack dab in the middle of the liquor privatization debate in Ontario.

And although there are many ministers who have their hands in the LCBO pie, it's Watson who is chipping away at the monolithic billion-dollar fortress.

As consumer minister, Watson's job is to serve, well, consumers -- all the while juggling what is best for his Liberal party (though I've known Watson for 15 years or more and he is a man of the people, a very smart politician who serves his constituents' best interests first). A lot of that responsibility and a lot of his time is used up trying to "modernize" draconian liquor laws and making wine and liquor more consumer friendly.

One of his biggest challenges is bringing our own Ontario VQA wines to the forefront, making them more available to consumers.

More recently, Watson was the driving force behind the Bring Your Own Wine to restaraunts law that brings us one step closer to a civilized society.

I had lunch with Watson recently at Toronto's first BYOW restaurant, Mammina's Ristorante on Wellesley, and it was a perfect example of how the new innovation works.

I wanted to showcase a lovely 1982 Bordeaux from Pauillac which I knew Mammina wouldn't have in its cellar. I brought the wine in and co-owner Paul Valentini happily opened the bottle and poured the wine for a reasonable $10 corkage fee.

It was a beautiful thing. We got to drink a fabulous wine and Mammina's doesn't need a costly cellar. When we didn't finish the bottle, Valentini recorked it and sent us on our way.

Perfectly sane. But there is much to do.

LITTLE THINGS

It's the little things that Watson is poking at. Like a crazy law on the books that says you cannot take your drink into the washroom of a bar (which is a concern to women these days who fear leaving their drinks unattended), or restrictions that say chefs can't cook with wine if their kitchen isn't licensed.

The province has embarked on a review that could result in various changes to the liquor act, not the least of which could be wine and beer in corner stores. There is also an internal operational review of the LCBO taking place (don't hold your breath on that one). Both reports are due this spring.

All very noble gestures. But how long can the Liberals ignore the biggie -- privatization (which is not on the agenda for either of the above reviews)?

How much longer can Ontario trick consumers into believing the LCBO monopoly is in our best interest? Monopolies are bad for all of us. One man telling you and me what's in our best interest, choosing what wines we have access to and setting the price of everything we drink is not a good thing.

We don't buy shoes that way. We don't buy groceries that way. And in a modern society, we should not buy booze that way.

Watson skirts the issue, as he must. It's really not his mandate. He listens to the reasons for not having a monopoly and it seems to me that he gets it.

But it always comes back to one thing: Ontario needs the revenue. To that I say, make the transition revenue-neutral. Alberta did it, and to the satisfaction of all involved (OK, maybe not the unions).

The government there sits back and collects the windfall from taxes and business licenses. It has no infrastructure to deal with, consumers have freedom to choose, wine stores are diverse in their selection and pricing is competitive and generally far less expensive.

Privatization is a good thing. And consumers need to tell forward-thinking, open-minded politicians like Watson how they feel. Nothing will get done otherwise.

Articles by Rick Van Sickle www.littlefatwino.com