issue 25 // volume 40

Liquor to be sold in only
two of Vancouver's grocery stores

» Distance laws limit market sales

Cazzy Lewchuk
Staff Writer

 

Re changes to BC’s liquor laws might

ave less of an impact than expected,
as a previous law places limitations on
liquor establishments existing within one
kilometre of each other.

On January 31, the BC government
announced its support for 73
recommendations in a report amending
current liquor laws. Many rules involving
the sale and possession of liquor will be

most potential to impact the local liquor
industry outlines the selling of alcohol in
grocery stores, allowing for an expanded

market.

BC Attorney General and Minister
of Justice Suzanne Anton announced
legislation on March 6 that included
allowing grocery stores to sell liquor
using a “store within a store” method. The
liquor area of a grocery store would have
separate checkouts, similar to many florist
or pharmacy setups. However, a previously
overlooked rule stating new liquor
establishments cannot exist within one
kilometre of another liquor store recently
made waves. Out of the 53 grocery stores
in Vancouver, only two exist outside a one
kilometre radius of a liquor proprietor: the
Choices Market locations on West 16th and
West 57th.

Marketing manager for the Vancouver
branches of Choices, Tyler Romano, told
the Vancouver Sun that Choices may take
steps to become liquor retailers once the
laws go into effect.

and we recently did expand it, so it’s
definitely feasible.”
He explained the stores had been

laws to see which establishments could
renovate to accompany sales.

Jeff Groot, a spokesman for the BC
government, suggested all other grocery
stores can buy out or go into business with
nearby liquor retailers.

“Tf it’s really profitable to [the grocery

 

By David Shankbone

However, a previously
overlooked rule
stating new liquor
establishments cannot
exist within one
kilometre of another
liquor store recently
made waves.

: store’s] bottom line to sell liquor, and they

relaxed in BC, with some coming into effect : make the liquor store an offer they cant
: : : : refuse, they'll have the opportunity to

as early as this summer. The policy with the : . ” .
: transfer that licence,” Groot explained.

However, such procedures may prove

: difficult if not impossible, as many grocery

: stores have multiple liquor stores within the
: kilometre radius. Of the 53 grocery stores

: in Vancouver, 39 exist within a kilometre

of two or more liquor retailers. Over 2/3 of

: the grocery stores in Vancouver will have to

merge with or acquire multiple liquor stores
: in order to legally sell alcohol. In fact, some
; supermarkets downtown have more than 10
: liquor stores within the distance limit.

“The reason we are keeping the one-

kilometre rule in place is to help ensure

} we can maintain or improve on current

: protections for health and public safety,
: while avoiding market concentration,”

: Anton explained in an opinions piece for
: the Province on March 19, in response to
: media backlash.

The one-kilometre limit exists across

the province, so a rural northern grocery

: store faces the same restriction as one

: in downtown Vancouver. In addition to

: the distance limit, BC will limit the total

“[The store on West 16th] is our flagship number of private liquor retailer licences at
: 670. Consequently, any additional grocery

: stores wishing to sell alcohol must acquire

: one of these existing licences, even if they

we . . : are outside the one-kilometre radius.
waiting on the details surrounding the new : are outside the one-kilometre radius

It’s clear some licences and businesses

will change ownership in the future, if the

: vast majority of grocery stores in Vancouver
: and the rest of BC wish to sell booze in

: the future. Official government policy of

: allowing grocery stores to sell liquor is

: expected to take effect in early 2015.

news // 5

 

 

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