Each country has its way of dealing with the production, distribution, and sale of alcohol (beer, cider, wine, and liquor). Suppose you visit Canada as a tourist or have just discovered your interest in alcohol as a local. In that case, you need to know where to buy alcohol legally. How easy is it to buy alcohol in Canada? Do grocery stores sell alcohol in Canada?
No, typically grocery stores are not allowed to sell alcohol in most provinces and territories. It is likely that if the Canadian grocery store is selling alcohol, it is done by the ‘store-within-a-store’ model. These are sections that sell alcohol but have their own cashier.
There are strict rules and limitations on which businesses can sell what kind of alcohol. If you want to know what you can buy in which Canadian territory and province, keep reading.
Do Grocery Stores Sell Alcohol in Canada? (List of All Provinces)
Do Grocery Stores Sell Alcohol in Alberta?
In Alberta, Alberta Gaming, Liquor, and Cannabis (AGLC) regulate the distribution and sale of alcohol.
Retailers, which do not include grocery stores, need to buy their stock from AGLC-approved warehouses and follow strict rules about the sale of alcohol.
This means you can only buy beer, cider, wine, and liquor in privately owned liquor stores approved by the AGLC.
Do Grocery Stores Sell Alcohol in British Columbia?
In B.C., two government departments regulate the distribution and sale of alcohol: the Liquor and Cannabis Regulation Branch (LCRB) and the Liquor Distribution Branch (LDB).
Today, you can buy alcohol (including liquor) in grocery stores, but it wasn’t always the case. Before 2015, you had to buy all alcohol in liquor stores.
While this is convenient, you must use a different cashier when you want to buy alcohol in grocery stores in B.C. This is called a “store-in-store” model, which means that grocery stores must have a separate area for alcohol sales.
Each grocery store must apply for a wine or liquor license before selling alcohol. You can find more information here.
Do Grocery Stores Sell Alcohol in Manitoba?
Manitoba does not allow the sale of alcohol in grocery stores. If you want to buy alcohol, you need to go to a liquor mart, a hotel beer vendor, a liquor vendor, or a specialty wine store (only a maximum of eight are allowed to exist in Manitoba).
The Manitoba Liquor and Lotteries (MBLL) regulates the distribution and sale of alcohol in Manitoba. They earn quite a bit of money through the sale of alcohol. This money goes straight to the provincial government, and it is unlikely that they are keen on giving up some part of that income so that grocery stores can sell alcohol.
Do Grocery Stores Sell Alcohol in New Brunswick?
The New Brunswick Liquor Corporation (ANBL) is a Crown corporation that the minister of finance controls. The ANBL regulates the manufacturing, buying, importing, and selling of alcohol.
They sell all sorts of alcohol in their liquor stores. Some grocery stores can sell a limited selection of wines, but you will not find beer, ciders, liquor, and high-percentage wines in grocery stores.
Do Grocery Stores Sell Alcohol in Newfoundland and Labrador?
You can buy beer in convenience stores in NFLD. Still, for all other alcohol, you need to visit a provincially owned liquor store.
These liquor stores are licensed by the Newfoundland and Labrador Liquor Corporation (NLC). The mission of the NLC is to provide safe and convenient access to alcohol (and cannabis). While their stores might not be as convenient as going to a grocery store, you should not be too far away from one.
Do Grocery Stores Sell Alcohol in Nova Scotia?
Like in most other Canadian provinces, the province itself has a monopoly over the distribution and sale of alcohol. In Nova Scotia, the Nova Scotia Liquor Corporation (NSLC) is in control.
In addition to having liquor stores in accessible locations, they also do home deliveries – which is even more convenient than shopping for alcohol in a grocery store.
Do Grocery Stores Sell Alcohol in Ontario?
Ontario has increased the number of stores allowed to sell alcohol (not including liquor). There are over 400 grocery stores that are allowed to sell beer and cider, but only over 200 of them are also allowed to sell wine.
If you want something stronger than beer, cider, or wine, you will need to go to an LCBO liquor store or LCBO convenience store. LCBO stands for Liquor Control Board of Ontario. The LCBO is a government-owned corporation that operates liquor stores in Ontario.
To find a store close to you, and for more information on Ontario’s alcohol sale laws, visit Ontario’s website about retail sales of alcohol.
Do Grocery Stores Sell Alcohol on Prince Edward Island?
You cannot find any alcohol in grocery stores in PEI.
Alcohol distribution and sales are regulated by PEI Liquor (Prince Edward Island Liquor Control Commission). The sale of alcohol is taken quite seriously in PEI. Example: Clergymen must apply for a permit to buy and use wine for sacramental purposes.
You can only buy alcohol in PEI Liquor stores.
Do Grocery Stores Sell Alcohol in Quebec?
In Quebec, the Régie des alcools des courses et des jeux (RACJ) issues permits for the sale of alcohol. The sale of alcohol is carried out by a provincial corporation called Société des alcools du Québec (SAQ).
Grocery stores and convenience stores are allowed to sell beer and wine, but there is a strict set of conditions that need to be met and many rules that need to be followed. You can only buy liquor and high-percentage wines in SAQ liquor stores.
Do Grocery Stores Sell Alcohol in Saskatchewan?
In Saskatchewan, the Saskatchewan Liquor and Gaming Authority (SLGA) regulates the distribution and sale of alcohol. The system in this province is a little different as it is a mix of public and private.
The system, however, does not include grocery stores. You can only purchase alcohol in liquor stores owned by the province (the majority) or privately owned.
Do Grocery Stores Sell Alcohol in Northwest Territories?
You won’t find alcohol in grocery stores in the Northwest Territories. The Northwest Territories Liquor & Cannabis Commission (NTLCC) oversees and regulates the distribution and sales of alcohol.
There are seven liquor stores. While these are privately owned, they are contracted to the NTLCC. In some communities, you can buy beer to take off-premise in breweries.
Do Grocery Stores Sell Alcohol in Nunavut?
Nunavut is a rather unusual place and not the best location if you like a drink now and then. There are NO stores selling alcohol in Nunavut. There also aren’t any liquor stores owned by the government.
Each community in Nunavut has its own rules about alcohol. Some do not allow alcohol at all, and in other communities, you need to import alcohol if you want to have some (only to be consumed privately).
The import of alcohol is also subject to licensing by the government (private individuals need to apply for these). You won’t find stricter regulations anywhere else in Canada.
You can find more information on the Nunavut Liquor and Cannabis Commission website.
Do Grocery Stores Sell Alcohol in Yukon?
In Yukon, the word of the Yukon Liquor Corporation is the law.
You cannot buy alcohol in grocery stores in Yukon, but you can go and get beer, wine, cider, and liquor in licensed liquor stores. There are six of these stores, and all of them are run by the government.
Some restaurants and bars in Yukon are allowed to sell beer to take away.
Selling Alcohol in Canada Related Questions:
What Is The Drinking Age In Canada?
The legal drinking age is lower in Canada than in the USA. In Quebec, Manitoba, and Alberta, you can legally purchase and drink alcohol once you are 18. In all other Canadian provinces and territories, you need to be 19 years old.
Is Alcohol A Problem In Canada?
You may think that alcohol should not be an issue in a country where you can’t buy a lot of alcohol in grocery stores.
The opposite is the case. Canadians drink more than the global average per year but still a lot less than countries like the U.K. or Lithuania. During the COVID lockdowns, liquor stores were allowed to remain open as they were classified as “essential.”
Alcohol causes a substantial amount of harm in Canada. Alcohol addiction and underage drinking are serious issues. Canadians are encouraged to consume less alcohol by following Canada’s Low-Risk Alcohol Drinking Guidelines.
What Are Alcohol Laws In Canada?
Like in the USA, alcohol laws in Canada are not the same for the whole country. Each province and territory has the power to make its own alcohol and drug laws.
Suppose you want to know the specific alcohol laws of a territory or province in Canada. In that case, the best resource is the Alcohol Laws in Canada website provided by Internal Trade Secretariat Corporation, which supports the Canadian Free Trade Agreement (CFTA).
Final Thoughts
It may seem a little inconvenient that most territories and provinces in Canada do not allow the sale of alcohol in grocery stores, but it could be worse. Imagine if all places were like Nunavut!
While buying a bottle of wine in a grocery store would be easier, it is not particularly difficult to buy alcohol in most Canadian locations. Some government-owned stores even ship alcohol right to your door – what could be more convenient?
Remember always to drink alcohol responsibly.
