Liquor Sales Changes Applauded by Private Seller
“What it will do is level the playing field” says Jordy Hoover, who owns Shooters Liquor Stores in Prince George.
The changes, to take effect April 1st 2015, will allow the sale of liquor in grocery stores, allow government operated B.C. Liquor Stores to be open on holidays and Sundays as well as extend their hours of operation and clears the way so all liquor retailers, government or otherwise, will be paying the same wholesale price for liquor through the BC Liquor Distribution Branch.
While B.C. Liquor stores still have higher wage costs because of it’s unionized staff, the Minister says the opportunity to extend hours and open on Sundays and holidays will provide an opportunity for the Government run outlets to compete. “We expect they will be competitive” says Minister Anton.
Minister Anton says the changes follow the concept that “Government needs to get out of the way and leave more to the market place.”
Hoover says the changes will be positive, as it will mean prices can be more competitive, “It’s all good” says Hoover, “It will level the playing field and bring the issue of buying liquor down to the simple matter of convenience, and that’s good for the public.”
Last year, there were $2.9 billion dollars worth of liquor sales in B.C.
Comments
Of course its all good for Jordy. He has all the liquor licenses that are within the competition limits in proximity to the large grocery chain stores in PG. He will likely make millions selling his licenses to them.
The licenses should come with a sunset clause and not be transferable in a private sale IMO.
If the government stores aren’t competitive will they be shut down?
Government run liquor stores will never be competitive. They are a high cost producer. Chances are they will lose
Millions.
This is the first step to close and privatize them. They will lose millions and the government will say they have to close them.
You can be sure when the Liberals say they are doing something positive for the general public there is a alliterative motive in mind.
And Mr. Monopoly of liquor licenses (Hoover) stands to make millions.
Posted on Thursday, November 20, 2014 @ 6:29 AM by thinkagainplease
This is the first step to close and privatize them. They will lose millions and the government will say they have to close them.
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Hopefully they’re closed long before the losses reach the millions. But, there’s a chance they could succeed. Time will tell.
maybe these private liquor store will pay their employees a living wage now.
If you work for a government liquor store I wouldn’t be buying a new house or car right now. Might want to use your spare time to take some evening classes too.
Posted on Thursday, November 20, 2014 @ 8:34 AM by Boudicca
maybe these private liquor store will pay their employees a living wage now.
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It’s a job that requires little to no skills other than dealing with people. 15 bucks an hour tops.
Unless the savings are substantial, I’ll be handing my money to the store that pays a living wage and benefits. So….BCL stores or, fingers crossed, Costco.
Posted on Thursday, November 20, 2014 @ 10:04 AM by govsux
Unless the savings are substantial, I’ll be handing my money to the store that pays a living wage and benefits. So….BCL stores or, fingers crossed, Costco.
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What does Costco pay on average in PG? I’m just curious.
The government vendor is best to shop at. Better selection and cost savings compared to private. If the government stores get coolers for their product and keep pricing the same they will beat out private stores.
@axman
Depends what you do there but anywhere between 10-22 an hour. Salary isn’t the big thing tho, the benefits are.
I will still do my shopping at government liquor outlets.You need to at least support the outlet that is paying a living wage. The private outlets pay a very low wage, has horrondous hours of work (Xmas morning)and no benefits.
Remove all Rules except the Age Rule, let everyone sell it anytime Everywhere.
The Government will get the same Taxes with less Cost, maybe to simple for Victoria to understand ! We are talking for year after year and nothing ever changes, same old same old.
Funny how people get jealous of someone else making a buck!
I know Jordy well, and none of what he has was handed to him..he worked hard, took chances and invested HIS money. If it turns out that he made some wise investments I say good for him! I know that myself, and most people out there have the opportunity to take a chance, take a risk, and make an investment as well but most are to scared to do it!
So…don’t be jealous…get off your ass and go do something yourself!
Why do we even have government liquor stores? To keep government employees employed? Why not government cigarette and lottery stores as well?
Posted on Thursday, November 20, 2014 @ 4:26 PM by NyteHawwk
Funny how people get jealous of someone else making a buck!
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Is it jealousy or just their bizarre sense of entitlement kicking in?
JB, I’ve been asking the same question for years!
A government liquor store is just another “retail” outlet, nothing more and nothing less. Except that Government Liquor Stores provide unionized Government jobs with all the salaries, perks and benefits that go with that. The Liquor Store retail clerks, at least the ones that I know, are all pretty decent people but we shouldn’t lose sight of the fact that these are lower skilled jobs!
Our Government Liquor stores pay premium wages for the “retail clerk” skill set required, yet for the most part the stores aren’t even open for regular “retail” hours. After all, we can’t expect our Government retail clerks to work evenings and weekends like everyone else involved in the retail trade!
I suspect that there will be a lot of complaining by members to the BCGEU when the members are advised that they will have to work on Sundays and/or evenings. A while back, I heard rumours that if this was to occur, the BCGEU would be asking for shift differential or overtime wages to those members that have to work Sundays or evenings, regular retail hours!!
This might get interesting!
I agree with you Hart Guy. I’m all for a living wage, and I’ll wager that most employers would love to give their employees a decent wage, with all the benefits. I have employed front office staff for 34 years. I have never been able to give a benefit package, or pension contributions. My competition for labour would be the health care system, where folks get jobs for life, with health care benefits and pensions. I remember a few summers ago, I stopped by our local (I’m a PG expat) liquor store on a hot August day. The store was closed, about a dozen employees were out in front, sitting in lawn chairs, with signs saying that they were on strike, cheering, high fiveing and blowing whistles. I bought my wine at a private store that was staffed by folk earning a lot less for the same service. I just don’t feel that any service should be worth so much more than a comparable one, just because the employer is the government.
Why is it that everytime I read about this it reminds me of BC Rail.
Change the rules to make it look like the government run operation is losing money and then privatize and sell it for the quick easy buck.
All the while dangling a pretty gem stone to distract the masses .
Vegas Magicians have nothing on this government .
I don’t think anyone at costco makes $10/hr. That’s less than min wage. More like $16-22 for hourly and maybe more . Managers make a lot more than that. They also used to have a $4/hr premium on Sundays. Paid sick time, benefits and share purchase plan. They have very loyal staff and customers
Hart Guy: “A while back, I heard rumours that if this was to occur, the BCGEU would be asking for shift differential or overtime wages to those members that have to work Sundays or evenings, regular retail hours!! ”
If they do, they’ll just tack the added costs onto our already expensive booze, and private liquor stores will have to follow suit.
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