After more than 80 days of consultation regarding the province’s liquor laws, beer and wine may be closer to making its way to B.C. grocery stores via a “store within a store” model.
With more than 50,000 visits to B.C. Liquor Review Policy web site, the one strong theme has been having the ability to buy liquor at grocery stores, John Yap, parliamentary secretary for liquor policy reform said in an announcement today.
Yap said they would be looking at a similar “store within a store” model currently used in Nova Scotia, and in Ontario, which allows some Ontario wineries to sell their wine in either freestanding stores or a store within a grocery store. They will also be looking at models used in the United States.
“From the beginning, we want a balanced approach of convenience and access that other people have but we also have heard we need to take a cautionary approach to public safety, heath and access to minors,” Yap said.
Having beer and wine in grocery stores, along with other recommendations which include having open bottles on the beach and craft beer at the farmer’s markets will be included in a report to the Justice Minister Suzanne Anton on November 25.
Feedback is open until the end of business day on October 31. To leave your comment or feedback head to the B.C. Liquor Policy Review web site.
The first opportunity to vote on a change to the legislation around liquor laws would be April 2014.
Comments