Widespread speculation that B.C. liquor store prices will rise significantly on April 1 appears to be misguided given a leaked partial price-list.
Attorney General Suzanne Anton said last week that the government would release its liquor store prices on March 20. Many expected that this release would be for the public.
Restaurant owners, the media and the public, however, were kept in the dark.
The British Columbia Liquor Distribution Branch (BCLDB) did release price lists of future B.C. liquor store prices to wine agents.
Some of those agents refused to provide their lists, saying that the BCLDB forbids them to reveal internal documents to the media.
One agent, however, provided a partial list and he said that prices on the whole were pretty much identical to the current prices across the board.
For example, the California red wine Republic currently retails at BCLDB stores at $16.99. The future shelf price of that wine will be $14.79 although a 10% provincial tax and a 5% federal tax will be added at the till, bringing the new sale price to $17.01.
The Seven Deadly Zins old vine Zinfandel wine from California’s Lodi region currently retails for $24.99 at BCLDB stores. On April 1, that price rises to $25.06 after all taxes are paid at the till.
Napa Valley’s Plume Winery produced a cabernet sauvignon in 2010 and 2011 that currently retails at BCLDB stores for $29.99. The price on April 1 will rise to $30 after all taxes are paid at the till.
For those who prefer Tuscan wines, the winery Rocca Delle Macie produced a wine it calls Roccato in 2009, which currently retails at BCLDB stores for $49.99. The price list that BIV obtained shows that the price of that wine will rise to $50.01 on April 1.
This story first appeared on our sister publication Business in Vancouver. Click here to read more.
