The provincial government says residents could see booze in grocery stores by winter 2015.
The B.C. government has outlined a two part model for liquor sales in grocery stores that will begin with the “store-within-a-store” model. This will provide customers with same cart shopping but the alcohol must be rung through separate cashiers to ensure minors are not buying booze.
Open Entrance "store-within-a-store" grocery model (Photo Credit B.C. Government)
The second model will be flexible to accommodate VQA licences as well as limit the number of new licences that sell VQA wine in stores. VQA wine will be allowed to be sold off designated shelves within the store and purchased at specific registers. According to Liquor Policy Reform Secretary John Yap convenience stores will not be included in the program.
The government plans to begin implementation of the two part model in early 2015 and will develop a new price based system for wholesale purchases distributed through the Liquor Distribution Branch. By fall 2015 permits will be issued to hobby brewers and vintners to apply for a licence to host competition events with homemade brew.
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