The Globe and Mail reports in its Tuesday, July 9, edition that the very first government-run liquor stores opened in Ontario nearly 100 years ago, marking the start of a government monopoly that would persist well beyond the province's social, cultural and legal maturation. The Globe's Robyn Urback writes that the underlying rationalization of the government's stranglehold on alcohol has persisted: that is, that liquor is inherently dangerous, ergo only the government can be trusted with its distribution. The head of the union representing LCBO workers repeated this notion when discussing the province's plan to expand alcohol sales to convenience stores and all grocery stores later this summer. JP Hornick, president of the Ontario Public Service Employees Union, has said the union's "line in the sand" is over the liberalization of alcohol sales in the province. OPSEU suggests that only the government can be trusted to sell you alcohol responsibly. The little bit of liquor liberalization Ontarians do enjoy has provided a release valve for whatever pressure a strike might have exerted years ago. Ms. Urback says striking LCBO workers are making Mr. Ford's case for liberalizing alcohol sales.