My intentions regarding future changes in the licensing laws are as follows. In its second interim report, the Commission on Liquor Licensing advocated a codification of the entire intoxicating liquor code. I intend to act on this recommendation and the necessary preparatory work is already under way in my Department.
Codification will involve a consolidation of licensing provisions, which are currently spread across many statutes, into a single instrument as well as reforms based on the commission's recommendations and the valuable work of the strategic task force on alcohol established by the Department of Health and Children. It is intended that the outline of the codification Bill will be available by mid-2004.