Urgent Update: Liquor Purchases Being Limited at Government's BC Liquor Stores

Dear ABLE BC members and industry colleagues,

Effective immediately and until further notice, all government-owned BC Liquor Stores will limit the quantity of alcohol products that customers—including pubs, bars, restaurants, and the public—may purchase in a single transaction.

BC Liquor Stores will limit customers to purchasing no more than three of any individual item (i.e. SKU) per day. Restrictions will apply to all products—except import and domestic beer—and will remain in place until the Liquor Distribution Branch (LDB) distribution centres resume operations. These restrictions include refreshment beverage products that come in 4-packs, 6-packs, and other formats.

This extraordinary step is intended to curtail panic buying and ensure all BC Liquor Stores customers have access to dwindling inventory of popular products. To be clear: the only reason BC Liquor Stores are rationing quantities is because of the BCGEU strike, which is shutting down BC’s vital liquor distribution warehouses.

We understand this difficult decision will be deeply frustrating to members who rely on BC Liquor Stores for vital inventory. As we have noted in media and in discussions with both government and the BCGEU, this ongoing labour dispute is now causing serious and unacceptable disruptions to BC’s liquor and cannabis industries. Both sides need to return to the negotiation table immediately before this strike causes further damage to our industry’s small businesses and the 200,000 workers you employ.

While we understand why BC Liquor Stores is taking this extraordinary action, we are NOT recommending BC’s private liquor stores implement similar restrictions at this time.

Please see government's release here.

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