Quebec Requires Vaccine for Booze, Weed: Should NoCo Do the Same?

The debate about whether or not to require the COVID-19 vaccine continues. Regardless of how you feel about it, it's a question that's at the top of everyone's minds.

READ: CSU Students Need Their COVID-19 Boosters to Be on Campus

Quebec is taking a unique approach to the vaccine requirement. According to Denver7, starting on Tuesday (Jan. 18), residents must be vaccinated to purchase alcohol or cannabis from government-owned stores.

A press release from Quebec's Ministry of Health and Social Services noted that the requirement could include self-care services in the coming weeks. Health officials are also discussing if they should require the COVID-19 booster shot.

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"We are aware that all the sacrifices asked of Quebeckers are not easy, but they are necessary, and I thank the population for their collaboration," said Christian Dubé, Minister of Health and Social Services, in the release. "We must do everything to limit the impact on our staff and on our very fragile health system."

Denver7 reports that vaccine appointments have quadrupled since the new requirement's announcement.

So, would a requirement like this be good for Colorado?

For starters, there aren't any government-owned dispensaries in the Centennial State (although RollingStone reports that there is one in Washington). There aren't any government-owned liquor stores here either, as Colorado isn't an alcoholic beverage control (ABC) state.

There also aren't any vaccine requirements in Colorado, save for ones implemented by private businesses and another regarding state and federal employees. In December, Gov. Jared Polis told Colorado Public Radio (CPR): "If you haven't been vaccinated, that's your choice. I respect that."

The concept isn't exactly feasible here, but it is thought-provoking. Would you support a requirement like this?

Feeling conflicted? Let us know why in the comments.

Answers to 25 common COVID-19 vaccine questions

Vaccinations for COVID-19 began being administered in the U.S. on Dec. 14, 2020. The quick rollout came a little more than a year after the virus was first identified in November 2019. The impressive speed with which vaccines were developed has also left a lot of people with a lot of questions. The questions range from the practical—how will I get vaccinated?—to the scientific—how do these vaccines even work?

Keep reading to discover answers to 25 common COVID-19 vaccine questions.

Gallery Credit: Stephanie Parker

Larimer County reimplemented its indoor mask mandate in October. Here's how Northern Coloradans felt about it then: