Your favourite BC wine may not be available on the shelves of Alberta retailers for much longer.
Alberta’s Liquor, Gaming, and Cannabis wholesaler has penned a letter to BC wineries with a simple message: stop shipping directly to customers, or they’ll stop stocking their products in stores.
A Lawyer representing the BC winemakers says the letter attempts to impose Alberta laws on BC businesses. He adds that the penalties are not supported by legislation, and the threats do not allow wineries the opportunity to respond or check Alberta’s evidence.
A spokesperson for ALGC says revenue for retailers and government in Alberta is being protected by this move.
A study conducted in 2018 commissioned by Wines of British Columbia indicates direct-to-consumer sales accounted for less than three percent of wine sales in Alberta. Just four provinces in Canada allow direct-to-consumer sales, including BC, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, and Nova Scotia.
