Beer and Wine Sales In Grocery Stores?
Tuesday, October 29, 2013 @ 10:00 AM
Prince George, B.C.- So, how do you feel about being able to buy beer or wine at the grocery store?
That was one of the more popular themes arising from the Provincial Government’s consultation on possible changes to B.C.’s liquor laws.
The Province says it will now explore several models to see which might work in B.C. Some of those models include:
- Quebec, grocery stores can sell domestic and imported beer, as well as Quebec-bottled wine.
- Nova Scotia, where provincial liquor authorities have opened government liquor stores within grocery stores – a so-called "store within a store".
- Ontario, some Ontario wineries are allowed to sell their wine either in freestanding stores or a store within a grocery store or other host retailer.
To balance some concerns heard from health and safety advocates about the number of retail outlets, consideration also will be given to maintaining the current cap on the overall number of retail liquor outlets. This could mean allowing current Licensee Retail Stores (LRS) and/or Liquor Distribution Branch (LDB) stores to operate within grocery stores.
There are three days left in the public consultation phase. You can submit a comment on John Yap’s blog
The final report on proposed changes will be delivered to the Attorney General November 25th.
Comments
It’s about time. I’m a big boy. I can handle a drink when I want one. Will people have a problem with increased access? Probably but they have a problem already.
Real Canadian Liquor Store.
Costco
30 years ago you could buy wine and beer in Quebec and still cannot in BC. Sheesh!
On my trips to Europe I can buy 24/7. In Germany one can walk around with a beer. Many of the cities have outdoor beer gardens, patios etc. and I have not seen as many drunk people on the streets as we have here in PG,
This province is so far behind in many ways.
There is no hard evidence that putting booze in the stores will increase crime or alcoholism that I can find. Has anyone seen any?
It would be nice to see more choices in this town than the monopoly we have now.
Washington State privatized ALL liquor sales less than 2 years ago. They used to have a similar system like BC’s.
Because of the new tax and licensing fee structure, the state is actually bringing in even more money than they did before.
But, as is stated in the attached linked article, some of the smaller stores are finding their operating costs are higher than expected and they are falling in arrears with their payments to the state.
http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2013/oct/28/small-liquor-stores-in-washington-struggle-with
I grew up in Ottawa and was able to drink across the river in what was then called Hull at age 18 rather than 21. Beer in nightclubs came in quart bottles and you were able to order more than one at a time.
In addition, beer and wine was sold in grocery stores at that time …. 1963 …. 50 years ago …..
I seem to recall reading something about BC being one of the highest crime provinces in Canada, NOT Quebec.
From Stats Canada
Since 2001, the largest increases among the provinces have been seen in Newfoundland and Labrador and British Columbia.
While most of the other provinces have generally followed the national trend of increasing rates since 2006, the impaired driving rate has continued to decline in Quebec and Ontario.
reported impaired driving incident stats per 100,000 population
BC = 400
Que = 200
Must be because beer and wine are so readily available in Quebec …. as a result people get so drunk they cannot even find the car, let alone know which seat to sit in to drive it. ;-)
data source for above =
http://www.statcan.gc.ca/pub/85-002-x/2013001/article/11739-eng.htm#a2
The reported impaired driving incident stats per 100,000 population in Washington State is approximately 160.
Most Provinces in Canada enforce a blood alcohol content of 0.05%, Quebec still enforces 0.08% so this might explain the difference between BC and Quebec stats.
Costco is due for selling some beer and wine. Bring it!
But this move might put a lot of liquor store union workers noses out of joint. Especially when spurred on by their union leaders. Ever think of that? The horror, alas, the horror.
gold_rush: “Costco is due for selling some beer and wine. Bring it!”
I agree. I think we’re a little way away from that day, but I would definitely welcome the option.
The Provincial Government sets the price of booze everywhere and that’s something that would have to be dealt with before the Costcos came into the picture.
Costco and S-Store outlets please.
Why do we even need Government liquor stores anymore when we already have private ones? If the private ones were allowed to set the prices, it would put the Government stores out of business.
Exactly. Patron Silver Tequila at the BC Liquor Stores is $89.00 for the 26er. GO to Super Store in Grande Prairie and it’s 59 bucks. The government liquor store is nice but let the market decide.
The Canada-wide criminal code BAC limit is 0.08%.
The stats presented are from criminal code offences. The provincial BAC limits are administrative limits which provinces may impose, but only those at 0.08%BAC are processed through the federal system and only those convicted are recorded in the StatsCan report.
BTW, Saskatchewan’s admin limit is 0.04%. Their rate is 750/100,000. It is by far the highest of the provinces …. as is their crime statistic.
Lots of moonshine on the prairie farms? :-)
Save-on-Booze, I can imagine the price they will charge, $24 for a 6Pack, or $20 if you have a save-on-booze card!
I like the idea, but BC Liquor stores have the lowest price booze in PG.
Put one in at City Hall.. Heyyy more taxes for Green.. Then we can have a drink while waiting in line to pay our taxes
PGguy1234 – Comparing your tequila brand in BC and Alberta is like comparing apples and oranges. How about comparing to the BC Gov. liquor stores and private stores?
Stillsmokin – maybe you do not remember when we had members of this city sitting in the chair and fell out of them a few years ago!
They are almost useless now – please don’t encourage them……lol
Mav: “I like the idea, but BC Liquor stores have the lowest price booze in PG.”
Well to be fair, the Government sets the prices at the private stores, so it’s not exactly a level playing field.
Its funny this town has liquor stores on almost every corner but up until recently you couldnt buy beer at a hockey game and you still cant at a grocery store.
Seems to be a huge fixation on our ability to access ethanol (C2 H5 OH)
Went to Alaska recently. You can get a a 40 lb’er of Captain Morgans, A Glock 9 mm and a steak all in the same Fred Myers Store.
Did not notice any drunken drive by shootings at the local Bar-B-Que’s.
Maybe it is time to graduate out of Prohibition. The US did it in about 1932 or so.
There exists a government imposed moratorium on new licensee retail stores until July 1, 2022. So I’d imagine they would have to compensate the existing retailers if they change the law.
Compensate the existing retailers? Which one of those are you?
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