In an attempt to price cheap booze-hounds right out of the market, the B.C. government will roll out mandatory minimum pricing for wine, beer, and spirits, for all retailers in the province.
As of May 1, 2016, the cheapest prices (per litre and before tax) at which stores can sell alcohol will be as follows:
- Wine – $6.44
- Spirits – $27.88
- Liqueurs – $20.39
- Packaged Beers (bottles and cans) – $3.19
- Draught Beer (kegs 18 litres of greater) $1.97
- Ciders and Coolers – $3.75
Lest you think we’re kidding about the province using pricing to help keep people off the hooch, the Liquor Control Board explains [.pdf] that the new minimum pricing plan is in place “to help ensure that liquor with very low wholesale prices is not retailed at prices that may encourage abuse or overconsumption.”
This means consumers (who the B.C. government wants to save from being winos) who appreciate finding some real bargains at their local B.C. Liquor Store may now have to scrape up more change in order to pop that bottle, depending which bottles they prefer to pop.
To see minimum pricing for all categories at standard sizes, check out this chart from the Liquor Control and Licensing Branch.
Editor’s note: This article has been edited to clarify that the prices are per litre.
Follow Channels and Categories