Alberta completes review into expanding sale of beverage alcohol

Alberta could be the next province to allow the sale of alcoholic beverages in c-stores and grocery stores widely. 

Following Ontario’s decision to expand alcohol sales, the government of Alberta said in April it would explore a similar move. An MLA committee was established to collect stakeholder perspectives on the effectiveness of the current model in serving the province and to identify potential areas for improvement. 

“The MLA committee has recently met with grocers and liquor industry representatives to discuss the desirability of expanding liquor sales into grocery and convenience stores,” says Brandon Aboultaif, press secretary to Hon. Dale Nally, Minister of Service Alberta and Red Tape Reduction.  “The MLA Committee has now concluded its work, and Service Alberta and Red Tape Reduction has begun to review the results. The results will be used to help inform how Alberta’s fully private liquor model can continue to support the best interests of both businesses and Albertans.” 

He gave no timeline on when results of the review will be shared publicly. 

In summer 2021, the Alberta government announced that the Alberta Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis (AGLC) was relaxing rules around alcohol consumption. 

This included allowing c-stores with a defined dining area to be treated like restaurants in applying for liquor licenses.  7-Eleven secured a license for a location in 2021, in Edmonton, which was described as a pilot for liquor sales. After the pilot was “well received by local patrons,” the chain has every year since added more stores to its alcohol beverage program.

According to the 7-Eleven website, 15 stores in Alberta now sell beer and alcohol for dine-in or takeout, with 13 of those also offering delivery. 

Trust Convenience in Calgary also recently became the first independent in the province to secure a liquor license. 

This article was first published on sister site Convenience Store News Canada