Opinion: Five ways to reform B.C.’s antiquated liquor laws

(VancouverSun) - The B.C. government is conducting a liquor policy review that extends to all parts of the regulatory and distribution systems for alcohol within the province. A new website is live for public input, and the government is actively seeking feedback through social media. As well, MLA John Yap, the parliamentary secretary responsible for the review, is meeting with numerous stakeholder groups in an attempt to solicit further input and ideas.

Our group, the Modernize Wine Association of B.C. (MWA), is also meeting with Mr. Yap. MWA is a registered non-profit society that includes members who represent the food and wine industries, the hospitality industry and wine consumers. We are advocating for positive reforms that will benefit both the food and wine industries, as well as consumers, while taking care not to risk the revenue government earns from liquor sales. Our ultimate objective is to promote change that will result in an enhanced food-and-wine culture throughout the province.

To bring B.C.’s liquor regulatory system into the 21st century, we propose reforms in five areas:

1. B.C. must modernize the wholesale pricing system for liquor. The B.C. Liquor Distribution Branch (BCLDB) uses an exceptionally complex formula to mark up products by unusually high margins (e.g., 117 per cent for wine, 163 per cent for spirits) and then sets artificial wholesale prices for all private licensees (in other words, all of its competitors) by allowing for small “discounts” off its own retail prices. No other jurisdiction in the world uses a system as complicated as this.