Driving us to drink

Sometimes the simple stories are the hardest to put together.
We wanted to do quick piece looking at what's hot at the LCBO for Christmas this week.
Memories of hitting the liquor store for a gift on the way to a premier's Christmas party came flooding back for me. (We got him some ice wine)
But there was an early problem in the story.
Our local manager said he needed the OK from corporate. So we called and were surprised to hear the communications person say she wasn't sure if they could handle the request.
That request was basically to tell us what trends were big this year locally in wine, beer and spirits.
The LCBO employee then said she'd try to get someone in the greater Ottawa area ... to tell us what's big in Carleton Place.
Later, she called to say she found someone in Barrhaven who would love to tell us what's all the rage in the liquor store -- he'd just have to touch base with the Carleton Place manager first.
That's right, in order to get a quote from right here, we'll have to call LCBO HQ, who would call someone in Ottawa, who would call someone here, who would then call us.
Your taxpayer dollars at work.