Government Policy Announcement Good for BC Wine Industry and Sales of BC VQA Wine
For Immediate Release:
KELOWNA, BC – Today’s announcement by the provincial government, regarding the implementation of additional Liquor Policy Review recommendations, levels the playing field for the liquor retailing industry, according to the BC Wine Institute.
“We support the government’s move to harmonize and simplify policies,” said Josie Tyabji, Chair of the Board of Directors for the BCWI. “These changes ensure that the retail model for the sale of liquor in BC is transparent and competitive.”
The policies announced by Attorney General Suzanne Anton include simplifying the wholesale pricing model to provide clear separation between the BC Liquor Distribution Board’s wholesale and retail operations, and regarding the grocery liquor store-within-a-store model, both of which will come into effect April 1, 2015.
Today’s announcement, which results from Parliamentary Secretary John Yap’s Liquor Policy Review, follows the success of sales for 100 per cent BC wine, beer and spirits at farmers’ markets this summer.
“We look forward to having more avenues to market and promote BC VQA wines through further policy review opportunities that support farm-to-table and Buy BC programs,” says Tyabji.
Wines of British Columbia (the BC Wine Institute’s consumer brand) supports BC VQA, which gives consumers assurance they are buying a wine that is from 100 per cent BC grapes.
Read the goverment’s full announcement here.
