Liquor stores and bars can now charge for drink samples

Liquor stores and restaurants in B.C. will now be allowed to offer larger samples to customers under a new policy just announced by the Liquor Distribution Branch.

The new maximum sample size is now increased to half of a full drink serving – 75ml for wine, 175ml for beer, and 20ml for spirits.

While patrons may be able to try their wine before making a purchase, liquor and wine stores are now also permitted to charge for these samples in order to “recoup the costs of expensive products.”

“Providing wine samples to our customers is fundamental to their journey and discovery process in wine,” says Everything Wine president Trent Anderson.

“Regulations that also allow for a retailer, at their discretion, to charge a small tasting fee will provide more opportunities to sample customers on expensive, iconic wines that wouldn’t normally be financially viable to open.”

John Yap, parliamentary secretary for Liquor Policy Reform says the announcement is just part of the province’s efforts to modernize liquor laws.

“We heard throughout the Liquor Policy Review that reforming B.C.’s liquor policy would require some large sweeping changes as well as smaller updates like this one that make a big difference for businesses. Today’s announcement is an important step forward to modernizing our liquor laws in a way that makes sense for consumers, retailers, and manufacturers.”