Buying Beer In British Columbia: Grocery Store Guide

British Columbia has a mixed system for alcohol sales, with beer, wine, and spirits sold in both government-owned and private liquor stores. In 2015, the B.C. government allowed wine to be sold in grocery stores that met specific rules, but there are currently no plans to increase access to alcohol beyond that. Vancouver has approved the sale of booze in grocery stores, but only in a 'store-within-a-store' model, where alcohol is sold in a physically separated area with its own cashier.

Beer can be bought in rural grocery stores in BC

British Columbia has a mixed system for alcohol sales. Beer can be purchased in rural grocery stores. However, the province has no plans to make alcohol more widely available in grocery stores. The attorney general of BC has stated that the province is already struggling with alcohol-related harms and that increasing the availability of alcohol would only worsen this issue.

In 2015, the BC government allowed wine to be sold in grocery stores that met specific rules. This was a result of a trade deal between Canada, the US, and Mexico, known as CUSMA. The wine-on-shelf model for grocery stores allows licensed grocery stores to sell 100% BC wine off the shelf. There are about a dozen communities in BC offering this model, which limits the sale to BC-made products, and customers can pay for their wine through the store's regular checkout.

The other model for selling liquor in grocery stores is the store-in-store model, which has been adopted by Vancouver. This model allows qualifying grocery stores to sell beer, wine, and spirits in a physically separated area with its own cashier. This area must be at least one kilometre away from any other liquor retailer.

Beer can also be purchased at government-owned outlets, private outlets, breweries, and bars and restaurants offering off-sale products. In recent years, new laws have been introduced, allowing beer to be sold at farmers' markets.

Beer can be bought at breweries in BC

While beer cannot be bought directly off the shelves of grocery stores in BC, some grocery stores have separate sections that sell beer, wine, and spirits. These sections are physically separated from the rest of the store and have their own cashier. To implement this model, known as "store-within-a-store", grocery stores must be at least one kilometre away from any other liquor retailer.

In rural areas of BC, beer can be purchased at rural grocery stores. Additionally, people in BC can buy beer at breweries, bars, and restaurants offering off-sale products, as well as at farmers' markets.

Beer can be bought at bars and restaurants in BC

British Columbia has a mixed system for alcohol sales. Beer can be bought at bars and restaurants offering off-sale products. In 2015, the B.C. government allowed wine to be sold in grocery stores that met specific rules, but it will not be on the shelf with other products. The city of Vancouver has opted for the 'store-within-a-store' model, which allows qualifying grocery stores to sell beer, but only in a physically separated area with its own cashier. This area must be at least one kilometre away from any other liquor retailer.

The province has no plans to make it easier to buy alcohol by increasing options in grocery stores. The attorney general of B.C. has stated that British Columbians are already struggling with alcohol-related harms and that more convenience is not what's needed.

Beer can also be purchased at breweries, and recent changes to B.C.'s approach to beer sales have been driven by the burgeoning craft beer industry. In the past two years, nearly 50 brewery licences have been issued, bringing the total number of breweries in B.C. to 112. The craft beer industry is estimated to employ over 2,500 people, with an additional 1,500 working in brewpubs owned by craft brewers.

Beer can be bought at farmers' markets in BC

British Columbia has a mixed system for alcohol sales. Beer, wine, and spirits are sold in provincially-owned and private liquor stores. In 2015, the B.C. government allowed wine to be sold in grocery stores that met specific rules, but there are currently no plans to increase access to alcohol beyond that. Beer can also be purchased at a brewery, and in rural areas, some alcohol sales (including beer) are available in grocery stores. Beer can also be bought at bars and restaurants offering off-sale products, and, more recently, at farmers' markets.

The sale of beer at farmers' markets in BC is a recent development, driven by the burgeoning craft beer industry. The B.C. Craft Brewer Guild reported that the market share of members' products doubled from 2010 to 2014, from nine per cent to nearly 19 per cent. This change in regulations allows wine, beer, cider, and spirit manufacturers to sell and serve samples of their products at farmers' markets, as long as the market and the municipality approve.

The B.C. Liquor Policy Review made 73 recommendations to modernize B.C.'s liquor laws and bring convenience, choice, and selection to consumers. These changes also support B.C.'s liquor manufacturers, along with the tourism and hospitality industry, and private liquor retailers.

The Surrey South Point Save-On-Foods has partnered with the BC Wine Institute to offer wine on its shelves, carrying approximately 500 different B.C. wines. Additionally, the wine-on-shelves model for grocery stores was created, allowing licensed grocery stores to sell 100% B.C. wine off the shelf.

While there have been calls for easier access to alcohol in B.C., the province has stated that it is not a priority to expand the availability of alcohol. The attorney general of B.C. has expressed concern over the province's struggle with alcohol-related harms and the potential impact of increased convenience in purchasing alcohol.

BC has no plans to make it easier to buy alcohol in grocery stores

British Columbia has no plans to make it easier to buy alcohol in grocery stores, despite calls from the public and industry for increased accessibility. While some provinces in Canada have a more liberal approach to alcohol sales, with beer and wine sold in supermarkets and convenience stores, BC is taking a more cautious approach due to concerns about alcohol-related harms.

The attorney general of BC, David Eby, has stated that the government has no plans to increase the availability of alcohol in grocery stores. He cites the province's struggle with alcohol-related hospitalizations as a key reason for this decision. In 2017-2018, British Columbia had 361 alcohol-related hospitalizations per 100,000 people, the highest rate in the country. Eby also mentioned the high public costs associated with increased alcohol consumption and the need to balance convenience with public health.

Currently, BC has a mixed system for alcohol sales, including government-owned outlets, private outlets, and some alcohol sales in rural grocery stores. Beer can also be purchased at breweries, bars, and restaurants offering off-sale products, as well as at farmers' markets. Wine sales in grocery stores are permitted under specific rules, such as the ''store-within-a-store' model, where alcohol is sold in a physically separated area.

While some argue that increasing alcohol availability in grocery stores would bring convenience and selection to consumers, as well as support local liquor manufacturers and the tourism and hospitality industry, the BC government prioritizes public health and aims to reduce alcohol-related harms. This cautious approach to alcohol regulation aims to balance the interests of various stakeholders while prioritizing the well-being of British Columbians.

The BC government's stance on alcohol sales in grocery stores reflects its commitment to addressing the province's challenges with alcohol-related harms and hospitalizations. While other provinces may be moving towards more liberal alcohol sales policies, BC is taking a more conservative approach to protect the health and safety of its residents.

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