BC’s wine industry has positively blossomed this last year, breaking ground as a wine region worthy of global consideration, winning international wine awards and expanding upon its own identity (hello new legal geographical indications (GIs) and sub-GIs!).
Matthew Boswell, Interim Commissioner of Competition at the Competition Bureau wrote an open letter to Attorney General David Eby encouraging him to review wholesale pricing in the assessment of BC’s liquor policy.
BC’s government announced in December that they will be conducting an independent review of the Liquor Distribution Branch (LDB) in the new year.
The mandatory display program requires licensees and liquor retailers to display social responsibility material, provided by government, in a prominent location in their establishments.
The AGLC recently made changes to the liquor tasting policy. Servers are now required to have ProServe certification, licencees can recover some costs, and sample sizes have increased.
On February 5, 2018 the Government of BC announced additional details of the regulations and policies that will govern the sale of non-medical cannabis in the province. The Liquor Distribution Branch will retain a monopoly over distribution of cannabis, but there will be public and private options for retail, including online sales.
It’s been full steam ahead at LCLB in the months following the many liquor policy changes that took effect January 23, 2017. The work initiated by my predecessor, Doug Scott, has continued and I am proud of the accomplishments we’ve achieved so far in working toward implementing the 73 recommendations of the Liquor Policy Review Final Report.
The Alberta government is committing $25 million in the 2017 budget for the Alberta Small Brewers Development Program. Budget 2017 includes $25 million for the Alberta Small Brewers Development Program. The province launched the program in August 2016 to help small, Alberta-based brewers grow their businesses.
A new Liquor Control and Licensing Act and Regulations came into effect in BC on January 23, 2017. These are substantially a follow through to the BC Liquor Policy Review Final Report prepared by the John Yap. There were 73 recommendations in the report and in excess of 50 have been implemented. According to government, as of January 23, 90% of the recommendations have been implemented.
BC’s Liquor Control & Licensing Branch announced a wide range of liquor policy changes, which will all come into effect on January 23, 2017.
This policy directive clarifies current policy around delivery from licensed establishments and establishes new policy with regard to online sales. LRSs and wine stores may now accept special orders from customers and deliver them.…
