Two-part model for liquor changes announced

NEWS — The provincial government today unveiled a two-part model for changes to the way British Columbians buy their liquor.

The changes come after a policy review in which people were asked what they thought needed to be changed about liquor laws.

Part of the change involves a “store-within-a-store” model that will apply to private liquor licences transferred into or sold to a grocery store, as well as to government liquor licences that are transferred into grocery stores.

The model will allow for sales of beer, wine and spirits through separate cashiers.

A second model will be flexible to accommodate VQA (Vintners Quality Alliance) licences, as well as a limited number of new licences that sell VQA wine in grocery stores.

Under this model, VQA wine will be allowed to be sold off designated shelves within the store, and purchased at designated check-out tills.

The definition of “grocery store” will be clarified later, the government said.

Parliamentary Secretary for Liquor Reform John Yap, who headed up the liquor law review, recommended that convenience stores not be included in the definition and that the current moratorium on the number of private liquor stores remain in place.

“During the B.C. Liquor Policy Review consultations, I heard that consumers want convenience and choice and the industry wants government to be flexible and promote an open, fair market — these changes address both of those calls,” said Yap.

“Our province is well on its way to having a unique, two-part grocery model that aligns with modern expectations and will grow B.C.’s economy.”

The goal is to implement the two-part model early next year. A new price-based wholesale pricing model for wine and spirits distributed by the Liquor Distribution Branch will be developed “so that the price all liquor retailers pay is consistent across the board.”