Wholesale liquor pricing for restaurants and pubs now in effect permanently

VICTORIA, B.C. –  Changes that allowed restaurants, bars, and tourism operators with a liquor license to purchase beer, wine, and spirits at a wholesale price set by the BC Liquor Distribution Branch (LDB) will now be in place permanently.

In June 2020, it was announced that temporary changes implemented would last until the end of March 2021.

Mike Farnworth, Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General, says, “Early in the pandemic, our government took urgent action to support B.C. restaurants and pubs by allowing them to purchase alcohol at a wholesale cost. Now we are making this change permanent to give these businesses certainty and help them recover, and to help the estimated 190,000 British Columbians who work in this sector.”

Before this change, any hospitality licensees paid full retail price, wholesale price, and a retail markup that the LDB set on most liquor purchases.

This is the latest recommendation implemented to support the liquor industry, which resulted from the government’s work in consultation with the Business Technical Advisory Panel.

Other changes include various temporary measures like extending the operating hours of retail liquor stores to promote physical distancing and accommodate vulnerable populations and permitting all food-primary and liquor-primary licensees to deliver sealed, packaged liquor products alongside the purchase of a meal.

Permanent measures include eliminating the independent wine store retail license class and transitioning Rural Agency Store authorizations to the new Rural Licensee Retail Store liquor license, which is regulated by the Liquor and Cannabis Branch.