The Alberta government has stepped in to block scheduled changes to minimum liquor pricing for the province’s bars and restaurants.
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On June 22, Dale Nally, the minister of Service Alberta and red tape reduction, announced the government has directed the Alberta Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis (AGLC) agency to immediately reverse its recent decision to alter minimum alcohol prices.
On June 9, the AGLC announced updates to the Liquor Licensee Handbook — the first minimum price increase since 2008.
Minimums were adjusted to $4 per ounce for spirits/liqueur, $0.50 per ounce for wine, and $0.25 per ounce for draught beer (pushing a 20-ounce pint minimum to $5). Bottled beers and ciders increased to $4.
“We have since directed AGLC to reverse this decision, effective immediately, to provide businesses and Albertans with greater certainty and consistency,” Nally said in a statement.
The minister did not specify what the AGLC’s planned changes entailed, but emphasized the province’s priority is maintaining stability for the hospitality sector.
Nally framed the intervention as an effort to support local businesses, noting the province’s hospitality and liquor industries are vital for job creation and tourism.
Taking a swipe at municipal politics, Nally also used the announcement to urge the City of Calgary to adopt a similar pro-business mindset. He called on Calgary officials to work closer with local hospitality venues and repeal what he described as a “misguided noise bylaw” ahead of the Calgary Stampede.
The provincial government did not provide further details on when the pricing reversal would take effect on the ground, though Nally noted the directive to the AGLC was immediate.
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