Canadian Liquor Prices

Yep, liquor price shock. I'm cutting back for sure. We brought our limited amount across with no issues but things are really expensive here.

soren wrote:
Had an interesting experience camping in Maine, near the Calais crossing. It was a busy holiday weekend on the American side, and the campground was packed. I started talking to a few young Canadian guys who were having a great time killing a significant amount of American beer. Now this wasn't a crew of high rollers by any stretch, they had a few cars and trucks that were 12-15 years old, an old pop-up and some tents. I asked why they would drink our cheap stuff when Canadian beer is allegedly so much better? They then told me that the average working man in their area doesn't drink store bought beer, since the sin taxes drive the cost up to 2-3X what we pay. They drink homemade wine and , beer buy all their brewing equipment from the local hardware stores and generally don't spend a dime at the Govt. liquor store. It was an interesting lesson in what happens when the government tries to save you from yourself by taxing a product to the point that you simply refuse to buy it, and make your own.

I dont drink that much to justify spending so much time on making your own,,

Mind you I knew someone who made his own beer and very tasty at that,and drinking six a daily,,,said that everyone in his family drank so much also and they all lived to be a hundred,,must be something in that. European beer that does body good :h

To the OP question,,
Alberta has no sales tax so when passing thru stock up on your poison there...:)

I much prefer the "sin" tax theory.
Better to have the higher taxes on alcohol and tobacco than going higher for fuel and food.

These are B.C.'s taxes per litre of fuel:

Gasoline Taxes before GST
35 cents - Victoria
42 cents - Lower Mainland
31 cents - Rest of B.C.

Diesel Taxes before GST
30 cents - Victoria
38 cents - Lower Mainland
27 cents - Rest of B.C.

They use high prices here to deter alcoholism and youth drinking. Of course, since the taxes go into the govt coffers, that doesn't hurt that decision either. They also have minimum pricing, not sure if that's just here in Ontario or Canada-wide.

EEWally wrote:
How can someone afford to be an alcoholic in BC? Is there a government subsidy? (Just kidding.)

A small price to pay for living in what is arguably the prettiest place, ever.


Gary Haupt

Canadian Liquor Prices. LOL

What was it Rolls Royce used to say? Something like, "if you need to ask the price, you can't afford it".

How can someone afford to be an alcoholic in BC? Is there a government subsidy? (Just kidding.)

daveB110 wrote:
My last purchase of vodka was from a store in Wellton, Az., where a 750 cc bottle cost me $6.95 USD. Nothing in Canada, I'd venture, comes remotely close to that price.

Likely only the 'mix' to go with it! :B

My last purchase of vodka was from a store in Wellton, Az., where a 750 cc bottle cost me $6.95 USD. Nothing in Canada, I'd venture, comes remotely close to that price.

Here is a link to SK pricing:

Sask Vodka