BC’s Liquor Licensing and Control Board has announced a new policy directive regarding minimum pricing for alcohol sales in the province.
The changes will go into effect May 1.
The Alliance of Beverage Licensees of BC (ABLE BC) represents 350 private liquor stores and about 600 pubs across the province.
ABLE BC’s Executive Director Jeff Guignard says there are two components to the new policy.
“There’s two components. the first one is codifying a practice that’s existed for a while now, which is that a liquor retailer is not allowed to sell below the cost they purchased for. The second piece of it is setting minimum prices across different categories,,” says Guignard. “So a minimum price for wine, spirits, beer, etc.”
So what will the new policy mean for the cost of a 6-pack? Guignard says most consumers won’t see any change at their local liquor store.
“I know it can sound very nerve-wracking for consumers when they think ‘Oh no – all of a sudden our prices are going to sky-rocket because there’s minimum retail pricing.’ But the minimum pricing in 99.9% of cases are below the practical retail prices seen in the retail market as it is. So no British Columbian should suddenly, as of May 1, be paying more for alcohol.”
Guignard says he believe the Liquor Board may be codifying a common practice by liquor retailers in anticipation of grocery stores entering the alcohol sales market.