CHAINS RENEW LIQUOR BID IN ALBERTA

EDMONTON, Alberta (FNS) -- Canadian supermarket chains, including Safeway, Real Canadian Superstores and Overwaitea Food Group, have revived a bid to sell liquor in their Alberta stores.

verages in specially designated areas.

The council has sent a brief to Municipal Affairs Minister Steve West.

The brief demanded that the Alberta Liquor Control Board "stop discriminating against grocery chains by requiring that they sell liquor only in stand-alone buildings."

Earlier, the Alberta Liquor Control Board had given conditional approval to Safeway to set up liquor shops adjacent to two of its supermarts, one each in Calgary and Grande Prairie. Approval for grocery stores to operate in-store liquor shops was not granted. "While we waited for a [final] decision, we watched as more than 300 new liquor stores were allowed to open, and they got a head start on us," said Bryan Walton, a spokesman for CCGD.

Walton said chain supermarkets should have the same rights as hoteliers and rural grocers, who already are allowed to sell liquor in their stores.