Drinking Laws That Make No Sense

ISSUE: Minimum On-Premise Drink Prices

JURISDICTION: BRITISH COLUMBIA

AGENCY: B.C. Liquor Control and Licensing Branch (BC LCLB)

POLICY DESCRIPTION:

The BC LCLB establishes a minimum drinks price below which the province’s licensed restaurants and bars may not sell to the public.

A minimum drinks pricing policy is supported by many health and addictions groups as an effective tool to minimize any potential harms that may arise from the misuse of alcohol, particularly those associated with overconsumption and binge drinking.

BC LCLB Minimum Drink Price Table

Beverage Category	Minimum Price Per Drink(not including sales tax)
Draught beer or cider if serving is less than 50 oz.	$3.00 per 12 oz. (341 ml)
Draught beer or cider if serving size is 50 oz. or greater	$12 per 60 oz. pitcher
Bottles or cans of beer, cider or coolers	$3.00 per 341 ml bottle or 355 ml can
Wine	$3.00 per 5 oz. glass (142 ml)
Spirits and Liqueurs	$3.00 per oz. (28.4 ml)

 

DISCRIMINATION:

The 2013 B.C. Liquor Policy Review Final Report recommended the LCLB establish minimum drinks prices consistent with those suggested by health advocates, that is 3.00 per standard drink. A standard drink is defined in Canada as any alcoholic beverage containing 17.05 ml of pure alcohol.

Examples of standard drinks include a 341 ml bottle of 5% abv beer, a 5 oz. glass of 12% abv wine and a cocktail containing 1½ oz. of 40% abv Spirits.

 

BC LCLB Minimum Drinks Prices Per Standard Drink

Beverage Category	Minimum Price Per Drink(not including sales tax)
Draught beer or cider if serving is less than 50 oz.	$3.00 per standard drink
Draught beer or cider if serving size is 50 oz. or greater	$2.40 per standard drink
Bottles or cans of beer, cider or coolers	$3.00 per standard drink
Wine	$3.00 per standard drink
Spirits and Liqueurs	$4.50 per standard drink

 

A standard drink containing 1½ oz. of Spirits has a minimum price nearly 90% higher than a standard drink of draught beer when served in a large pitcher and 50% higher than a standard serving of either bottled beer or table wine.

Minimum price discrimination risks sending the erroneous and dangerous message that consuming a standard serving of some alcoholic beverages will has a lesser impact on one’s body when the science demonstrates that 17.05 ml of pure alcohol has the same effect whether consumed as a beer, wine or spirits or whether served by the pitcher or by the glass.