B.C. liquor store owner faces 'devastating' financial hit from BCGEU strike

B.C. liquor stores should be bustling in the lead-up to Thanksgiving dinner and gatherings, but a Metro Vancouver small business owner says that his location has seen a sharp drop in business due to the ongoing BC General Employees’ Union (BCGEU) strike.

SR* and his family run Liquor 62, a private store located in the Panorama Ridge and Surrey–White Rock area.

SR told Daily Hive that the BCGEU strike, which began in early September, has had a devastating effect on the business.

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“We haven’t received any deliveries from the BC Liquor Distribution Branch (LDB) for over three weeks, and our shelves are almost empty,” said SR. “We rely entirely on LDB distribution. Without product, we simply can’t operate.

“Every day we’re turning away customers and losing revenue. It’s incredibly frustrating because this is completely outside of our control.”

According to the BCGEU, nearly 25,000 workers are now on strike at more than 470 worksites across the province, including LDB Liquor and Cannabis warehouses.

SR shared photos of several of his store shelves sitting empty, along with notices to his customers alerting them to limited inventory due to the job action.

“At this point, I would estimate our store has lost between 30 to 40 per cent of our regular sales,” he explained. “Our inventory is almost gone, and customer traffic has dropped sharply. For a small independent business with fixed rent, utilities, and payroll, that kind of loss is unsustainable.”

“Customers are mostly surprised at how quickly the impact has hit. Many are frustrated that they can’t find their usual products, and some even think we’re choosing not to restock — which isn’t true. We try to explain that this is a province-wide supply chain issue, but people are understandably upset. Most are supportive once they realize it’s completely out of our hands.”

The Liquor 62 owner said that he has spoken to several other store owners who have also shared their struggles. Many are running out of key products and are cutting hours or closing temporarily.

“We’ve tried to stretch our remaining inventory as much as possible and are being transparent with customers. We’ve reduced operating hours and postponed new hires to conserve cash. But realistically, there’s only so much we can do without product.

“It’s not just about lost sales; it’s about losing customers permanently if they start going elsewhere. If this continues much longer, it will push some small operators past the breaking point.”

The BCGEU strike is also having a significant impact on liquor supply at restaurants and bars in B.C.

A statement from Restaurants Canada released earlier this week issues a dire warning on behalf of the B.C. foodservice industry.

“Restaurants and bars in B.C. are quickly running out of liquor inventory, as the BC Liquor strike enters its sixth week with no resolution in sight,” Restaurants Canada said.

“Currently, the only way for restaurants and bars to purchase liquor is by going to an open BC Liquor store, where they are limited to three items per SKU per day. With picket lines closing different BC Liquor retail locations every day, this is not a tenable solution, and it puts foodservice owners and workers at risk as they scramble to secure product.”

BCGEU President Paul Finch says the impact this is having on the public is regrettable.

“We don’t take this escalation lightly, and we know that disruptions to services are difficult for the public—we regret the impact this is having on communities,” he said in a release.

“After months of patience, our members have been left with no alternative. The government has a choice: they can sit down and bargain with us—or they can continue to let this disruption escalate,” Finch said, adding, “We’re ready to talk. We’ve been ready. The ball is in their court.”

The BCGEU represents more than 34,000 provincial public service workers across B.C.

Their jobs range from wildfire response and child protection to corrections, court support, and liquor and cannabis distribution.

Members are calling for wages that keep pace with inflation, as well as updates to their contract to address recruitment and retention challenges in the public service.

The union also wants fairer access to remote work, a modernized classification system, and limits on the growth of management positions.

SR is urging the B.C. government to “act now”, stating that he supports the workers and their right to fair pay, and that small businesses can’t be collateral damage.

“At the very least, allow private retailers to pick up inventory directly from warehouses at our own expense while the strike continues. Or designate liquor distribution as an essential service so that minimum operations can continue,” he added.

“Small business owners like myself are doing everything we can to hang on. We’ve worked hard to build our stores, invest in staff, and serve our communities, and it’s disheartening to see it all jeopardized by a situation completely out of our control. We’re not asking for special treatment, just a fair chance to survive while the province and the union work toward a resolution.”

*Name has been changed to initials to protect identities