Liquor Prices in Alberta vs BC

[poooonjabi]

I just read this case study on how much cheaper liquor was cheaper in Alberta than BC.

http://taxpayer.com/sites/default/fi...oadable/31.pdf

Here's a summary:
-Out of over 1800 products, over 80% of products were cheaper in Alberta.
-Alberta has a much more competitive market (more stores competing for same amount of people)
-BC government employees are paid more than Alberta non-government employees (people who stock shelves, cash registers, etc)
-BC's revenue from liquor is double from Albertas
-BC is not privatized due to the obvious loss of revenue to BC


BC did just recently "relax" their liquor laws

http://www.kelownacapnews.com/news/162270235.html

"the province announced that British Columbians would be allowed to bring one case of wine into B.C. in addition to four bottles of spirits, and a combined total of six dozen beer, cider and coolers from other provinces for personal consumption. For 84 years it was illegal to transport alcohol over interprovincial boundaries."


It's good that I can bring booze for personal consumption but limited to 4 bottles or 72 beers. But this is total crap that the BC government is blatantly taxing us to run their inefficient operation.

Yes we have some semi-private stores but the price differences are still there.
Check out Liquor Barns flyers who operates in BC and Alberta

http://www.liquorstoresgp.ca/Specials/OurFlyer.aspx

The prices are $2 - $5 less in Alberta than in BC.

[cheapgeek]

At least you don't have to shop for it in ontario

[Neovingian]

At least you don't have to shop for it in ontario

Took the words right outta my mouth don't even get us started on Ontario liquor prices and the greedy lcbo.

Every time I'm in AB I bring a suitcase or bag just for liquor when I get back, depending on the sale some spirits and wines are as much as 40- 75% cheaper in AB than in ON (after factoring in taxes) not sure what the exemptions are but I think its more than I can bring from the US. I usually bring anywhere 4-8 med to large bottles back with me.

[natalka]

We have the same situation in SK, government controlled liquor stores with highly paid employees.

[Piro21]

At least you don't have to shop for it in ontario

Yep.

OP, let me introduce you to Crystal Head vodka. Our wonderful government employees here at the LCBO decided that this stuff was just too scary for grown adults to consume, so they banned the sale of it. Because the bottle was too scary. Sounds like a joke, no? They've since lifted the ban because of consumer outrage, but they don't think twice about pulling this sort of crap. Be glad you have Alberta and Seattle so close.

[Sanyo]

750 ml of Absolut:

Ontario: $26.45
BC: $23.99
Alberta: $21.99

Though liquor here already includes taxes, not sure in Alberta or BC (those prices were taken from Liquor Depot website and the flyer they have online).

[Sanyo]

However I was also surprised that 12 bottles (330 ml) of Bud Light Lime is actually CHEAPER in Ontario, than in BC:

Ontario: $22.45
BC: $23.99

So I have no idea how stuff is priced there, its all over the place...

[Sanyo]

Ideally, they need to get rid of the Beer Store monopoly in Ontario. Let convenience stores atleast sell them. I know in the U.S. some states only allow the sale of beer in stores, but can't sell hard liquor. I wouldn't even mind that, beer should be allowed to be sold anywhere...

[Cytosol]

Wait, it was previously illegal to bring beer into BC from Alberta? I've done this dozens of times, with the alcohol in plain view to boot. I guess this doesn't get enforced very well.

Alberta get's it rough for tobacco laws. I smoke cigars occasionally and Alberta has some of the highest tobacco taxes in the world, let alone Canada! But I guess not as many people smoke cigars as they do drink alcohol.

[champdood]

750 ml of Absolut:

Ontario: $26.45
BC: $23.99
Alberta: $21.99

Though liquor here already includes taxes, not sure in Alberta or BC (those prices were taken from Liquor Depot website and the flyer they have online).

BC Liquor website lists it at $26.49 which is interesting, I didn't think anyone was allowed to ever undercut the government pricing, so it might not include tax (add tax and Liquor Depot winds up being higher priced. Or I could be wrong, it could be that they're forced to buy from the government at inflated prices, making it hard to undercut them).

The BC Liquor site definitely includes tax though, not sure about Liquor Depot, don't have one near me. Bud lime is also $24.99 for a 12 pack. So I get the feeling BC is one of the worst off :/

It's good that I can bring booze for personal consumption but limited to 4 bottles or 72 beers. But this is total crap that the BC government is blatantly taxing us to run their inefficient operation.

Yes we have some semi-private stores but the price differences are still there.

Private stores aren't allowed to compete with the government on pricing, thus why the price differences are still there. It's not particularly inefficient either, however it is a huge money earner. It's not just tax going on prices, there's a massive markup on the price being put on there (especially on imported goods) so they make a tonne of money out of it. Sales of $2.9b and a profit of $911 million, that's a staggering margin to make (31.4%. For comparisons sake, Apple's net profit margin for their last full year was 31.6%).

[natalka]

750 ml of Absolut:

Ontario: $26.45
BC: $23.99
Alberta: $21.99

Though liquor here already includes taxes, not sure in Alberta or BC (those prices were taken from Liquor Depot website and the flyer they have online).

In SK - $26.94

The Bud Light Lime - $26.99

[Sanyo]

Was just at the Fort Erie/Buffalo Duty Free shop -- so one 750 ml bottle of Absolute Vodka at LCBO -- $26.45 as I mentioned before. At the duty free shop??? THREE 1 LITRE bottles for --- $36!

YEP $36 for THREE 1 LITRE ABSOLUTE BOTTLES vs. $26.45 for ONE 750 ml bottle.

Talk about mark ups here unbelieveable! That shows up what the duty and tax is on liquor in Ontario, not to mention mark up -- this is sick sick thing the government is doing to its people. And doesnt just apply to liquor...no wonder on a tuesday afternoon (1:30pm) when people are at work, I still encountered almost a 20 min wait at the border...people shopping in droves, Canadian govt needs to wake up and start being more competitive and allow Canadian stores to do well...

[Octavius]

One of the things I definitely don't miss from living in Ontario is getting ripped off by the LCBO and the beer store.