Regina's new private liquor store draws a big crowd

A new privately-owned liquor store was pulling in lots of customers at its grand opening in Regina on Friday.

People were lining up on the sidewalk outside the Sobeys liquor store about an hour before it opened.

Some shoppers told CBC News they were there insearch of good deals on booze.

There have been other privately owned liquor stores in Saskatchewan, but Sobeys calls this one Regina's first "full service" store, with wine, beer and hard liquor.

Inside the 3,000-square-footspace on Rochdale Boulevard in the northwest corner of the city, there's a large selection of craft beers, a tasting bar and fridges that hold cheese to go with the wine.

The new private store is one of the changes the Saskatchewan government has green-lit as it revamps its liquor retailing system.

• Sask. liquor authority crunching numbers on severance payouts

Right now there are 75 government-owned liquor stores, but the province is doing a review and is considering a number of options.

• Sask. will look at Albert-style liquor storeprivatization

Those include everything from the status quo to an Alberta-style privatization of all government owned stores. A decision is expected in the fall.

POLL: How do you feel about Regina getting a new,full-service, private liquor store?