A customer goes through his wallet while paying for alcohol at a liquor store in Vancouver in this file photo.Ben Nelms/The Globe and Mail
British Columbia's liquor agency is working on an online option for buying alcohol, following similar measures being undertaken in Ontario.
The Ministry of Small Business and Red Tape Reduction announced on Tuesday that the B.C. Liquor Distribution Branch is working on an "online tool" to allow customers to place orders for liquor products over the Internet.
"Right now, the LDB is in the initial stages of determining how the online tool can be implemented. When we have a more defined timeline, we will be sure to share that information," the ministry said in a statement, speaking for the branch.
The ministry noted that private liquor, wine and manufacturer on-site stores can already sell their products online.
B.C.'s move comes as Ontario announced that its Liquor Control Board is launching an online site through which more than 5,000 products will be available for delivery to homes or local LCBO stores.
In announcing the plan, Finance Minister Charles Sousa said Tuesday that wines from British Columbia and Quebec would also be available in Ontario.
Premiers of the three provinces agreed last week at the annual meeting of premiers and territorial leaders to make it easier for consumers to purchase one another's wines. Liquor agencies in each province will continue to oversee such sales.
The Liquor Distribution Branch's online commitment comes as the B.C Liberal government has been proceeding with a years-long bid to reform liquor policy in the province – an initiative that has led to such measures as Sunday openings at government liquor stores and the sale of wine in grocery stores.
Jeff Guignard, executive director of the Alliance of Beverage Licensees, which represents about 350 private liquor stores and 650 pubs in British Columbia, said his members have been mindful of the Liquor Distribution Branch moving into online sales.
"There's always some trepidation about what government stores do … because we are always competing with them," Mr. Guignard said. "As long as [a distribution branch online sales site] operates in a way that is fair to the private sector, we have no concerns."
However, he noted that government stores may have an edge on their private counterparts, few of which have dabbled in the online market.
Under current regulations, each retailer must have a website for each of their stores. However, Mr. Guignard noted that government stores would presumably be selling products for all of their stores, creating an unfair competitive situation between the private and public sector.
Private stores, which have been a B.C. fixture for about 25 years, are "quite happily" competing with government stores, he said. "What's difficult is when one retailer is operating under a different set of rules."
David Eby, provincial opposition liquor critic for the NDP, said he could see advantages in the liquor branch's plans for rural British Columbians, but he is worried about ensuring alcohol products will be off limits to young people.
Given the costs and challenges of developing effective information technology systems, Mr. Eby said he would be watching closely to see who will be developing the system and running it.
"Ultimately, this is the public paying for this," he said.
Ian Bailey