The Saskatchewan Government and General Employees Union is not taking news about allowing private liquor stores in the province quietly.

Premier Brad Wall said this week the government will explore whether or not new neighborhood liquor stores should be privately owned.

The SGEU is quoting a study done in B.C. after some private liquor stores were allowed alongside publicly owned stores.

The study found that each additional private liquor store, per one thousand residents 15 years of age and older, increased local alcohol mortality by 27 and a half per cent in B.C. between 2003 and 2008.

So, the union says, judging from that research, in Saskatchewan, we can expect to see more deaths due to traffic accidents, alcohol poisoning, homicides and suicides, if we open up our liquor retail system to private businesses.

The Union says private liquor stores are more likely to sell alcohol to minors than a publicly owned store.