Publication date: August 20, 2022 • 1 day ago • 3 minutes read • 23 comments A person leaves a BC government liquor store with a cart full of purchases in Vancouver, Friday, August 19, 2022. British Columbia’s Ministry of Finance says it’s state liquor stores liquor companies are implementing limits on alcohol sales in response to labor action affecting many distribution points, effective immediately. Photo by DARRYL DYCK /THE CANADIAN PRESS

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Shoppers were upset on Saturday after action by a major union forced them to source their liquor purchases from government-run retailers.

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Although British Columbians are now limited to buying three of the same items, with the exception of beer, the lack of product on store shelves has been the cause of frustration. “I couldn’t even get what I came for,” one woman told Postmedia while leaving a BC Liquor Store location in East Vancouver. “The only thing I drink, the Okanagan apple cider, was sold out. I had to buy another item —— not happy about it.’ Another customer, a man, told Postmedia he bought two bottles of Smirnoff vodka as the larger variety he usually buys was out of stock. “The shelves are emptying,” he said, noting the “temporarily unavailable” tag that marked several areas of empty stock in the store. The BC Liquor Distribution Branch notice order came as 33,000 members of the BC Union of General Employees began limited jobs, including sales around liquor distribution points, to support contract demands that include wage protection against inflation.

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The campaign launched Monday afternoon at four BCL distribution centers — in Delta, Kamloops, Richmond and Victoria. Last Friday, the BCGEU issued the province with a 72-hour strike notice after months of negotiations. The LDB said the “modest” restrictions are intended to ensure there is enough booze to go around “for as many customers as possible”. In a statement on Friday, Labor Minister Ravi Kahlon urged everyday customers not to panic buy, encouraging them to “respect the purchase limits put in place to support equity.” “Not everyone has the same ability to make large purchases, and we don’t want customers to be at a disadvantage,” Kahlon said. For Vancouver’s private retailers, bars and pub owners, the employment impasse has sparked a new concern.

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Simon Fallick, owner of The American and Hero’s Welcome, said if the job action continued for more than two weeks, his next warehouse order could leave him without vodka. “Everyone who has a liquor license must buy from the government, all imported goods that pass through their warehouses. Since the vodka we use, Absolut, is from Sweden, this break in the supply chain is disruptive,” Fallick said. “Fortunately, most of our business is based on selling local beer and wine.” A person’s purchases are displayed in a shopping cart at a BC Liquor store in Vancouver, Friday, Aug. 19, 2022. British Columbia’s Ministry of Finance says state liquor stores are implementing limits on alcohol sales in response to action affecting work multiple distribution points, with immediate effect. Photo by DARRYL DYCK /THE CANADIAN PRESS Jeff Guignard, executive director of the Alliance of Beverage Licensees, said imported liquor will likely be the first to dry up on the shelves of private liquor stores. “Customers will start seeing inventory this weekend,” Guignard said, noting that BC beer, spirits and cider are less affected.

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He said some retailers had experienced limited “panic buying” as a result of the strike and news of the bond could make it worse. “Today we are asking both sides to come back to the table immediately and find an agreement because this now affects BC’s entire $15 billion spirits industry, thousands of small businesses and the 200,000 workers we employ.” While most private liquor stores do not intend to impose similar purchase limits, one Vancouver retailer, Legacy Liquor Store, has chosen to limit customers’ daily purchases to 12 bottles of wine and six bottles of spirits. — with files from The Canadian Press [email protected] twitter.com/sarahgrochowski More news, less ads: Our in-depth journalism is made possible by the support of our subscribers. For just $3.50 a week, you can get unlimited, ad-lite access to The Vancouver Sun, The Province, the National Post and 13 other Canadian news sites. Support us by subscribing today: The Vancouver Sun | The Province.

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