Alberta will not move forward with sale of liquor in grocery, convenience stores

Albertans will not beryllium capable to bargain liquor successful market and convenience stores anytime soon.

An MLA advisory committee tasked pinch evaluating Alberta’s liquor unit exemplary has recommended that nan state support its existent liquor unit model. This intends that nan state will not move guardant pinch expanding nan waste of liquor into market and convenience stores.

“The thought of expanding liquor income to market and convenience stores has been mused astir for years,” Premier Danielle Smith said successful a news merchandise Wednesday morning.

“I’m grateful for nan important activity done by MLAs to look into nan feasibility and contented of specified an description and nan recommendations they’ve put forward. I americium pleased to judge those recommendations and guarantee Alberta continues to uphold our existent model, which is 1 of nan astir unfastened successful Canada.”

Members of nan committee consulted pinch manufacture representatives, business owners and different experts.

The state said nan committee’s reappraisal recovered that expanding liquor income to market and convenience stores would importantly harm Alberta’s existing backstage liquor unit model. Alberta’s liquor manufacture has been privatized since nan 1990s.

“Expanding liquor income to market and convenience stores whitethorn look convenient for consumers, but it would person a detrimental effect connected nan unit liquor shop industry,” said Lesser Slave Lake MLA Scott Sinclair, a personnel of nan advisory committee.

“Our reappraisal wished that specified a move would importantly harm mini businesses and could yet lead to wide closures, occupation losses and diminished action for consumers.”

Dale Nally, Minister of Service Alberta and Red Tape Reduction, said successful a connection that he has accepted nan committee’s recommendations, which he believes will support a level playing section successful nan industry.

“Alberta’s backstage liquor exemplary is simply a jewel successful nan crown and allows mini businesses to thrive while providing a wide assortment of products and services,” Nally said.

In 2021, 7-Eleven began serving intoxicant successful immoderate locations successful Alberta, including stores successful Edmonton and Calgary. Alberta, Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis antecedently said it was because nan stores had adapted their businesses to see restaurants.

Earlier this year, Ontario expanded its liquor offerings to let for nan waste of ready-to-drink beverages and ample packs of brew successful market stores.