O.K. maybe on reflection this does have some distant relationship to AC AP.

I wanna know how come it is against the law in Alberta to collect points on cigarette purchases while fine to collect points on buying booze. More specifically, why can I collect AirMiles at Pals http://www.67liquor.ab.ca/air_miles.htm
while I can't collect Esso Extra points

Terms & conditions:

Esso Extra points will NOT be awarded for:
b) the purchase of lottery tickets or tobacco products;

for buying smokes. Is this federal or provincial law and why the different treatment? BTW, how this relates to AC AP is I'm saving up the Esso points to convert into AP miles via points.com and hadn't noticed until now wasn't collecting them on cigarette purchases.

I know a few of the AC forum are barristers, solicitors and/or lawyers, so any educated gueses?

I know a few of the AC forum are barristers, solicitors and/or lawyers, so any educated gueses?

Lawyers and educated in the same sentence--is that a contradiction or what?

Sorry punished and Alta couldn't resist that line.

Not a lawyer, but could it have to do with price point? Perhaps there may be such a small margin on sales (like lotto tickets) that they can't afford to offer points?

You're actually going to use points.com? Willingly?? Isn't that a little (or even a lot) like paying someone to steal from you?

Some of it is due to laws or regulations (some federal, some provincial), and some of it due to thin profit margin. In our business, our loyalty card (Shoppers Drug Mart Optimum) we are prohibited by law from awarding points on tobacco and over-the-counter codeine purchases. Some provinces prohibit awarding points on prescription purchases. We don't award points on lottery, stamps, bus tickets, etc because of the almost zero profit. There you go, and no I'm not a lawyer, just a lowly pharmacist.