EDMONTON — Albertans will finally not be able to buy alcohol in grocery and convenience stores.
The provincial government had been studying this possibility since the end of last year, but did not move forward in order to protect private retailers.
The government says the decision comes after a committee of elected officials consulted with industry representatives, liquor store owners and experts.
He explains that if grocery and convenience stores were allowed to enter the alcohol retail market, there would be liquor store closures, job losses and a decrease in product variety.
Earlier this year, Ontario grocery and convenience stores were allowed to begin selling canned beer, wine and liquor in competition with state-owned Liquor Control Board of Ontario stores. province. This practice is well established in Quebec.
Service Alberta Minister Dale Nally says the status quo will allow the province’s approximately 1,600 private liquor stores to continue to thrive.
“Alberta’s private liquor sales model is a crown jewel and allows small businesses to thrive while offering a wide variety of products and services,” Nally said in a news release.
Scott Sinclair, MP for Lesser Slave Lake, was part of the committee involved in the decision.
While a change would have been convenient for consumers, he said, it would have had a “detrimental effect” on the existing private alcohol retail industry.
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