Canadian Liquor Prices

I alos see a brand of wine that we buy regularly in Canada (napa wine) that is ALWAYS more money in the US. Exeption vs the rule though...

Chris, this is the first I've heard of your Canada trip -- are you driving all the way from Mexico?? What's your route through Canada? Sounds like we need a separate thread just to give you unsolicited advice!! ;)

And yes, booze in Canada is very expensive. On the bright side, I drank a little less while I was there and lost some weight. I gained it back when we returned to the US, but it was fun while it lasted.

A friend of mine told me that although California wines are far more expensive in Canada than in the US, Italian wines are about the same as in the US. Don't know why that would be true.

No, we're entering Canada around May 15th and exiting August 1st. :) Very excited about the trip.

qtla9111 wrote:
Well, we're ready to pay! We're driving from Vancouver to Kingston, N.S.! Ouch!

Oh man...what a great trip! Please tell em you are not doing it in 10 days, or somesuch.


Gary Haupt

I just deleted 2 posts that were off topic; please stick to the OP's question regarding prices in Canada.

Thanks,

... Eric (Moderator)

Buying some adult beverages in Canada is a toss up for me. We really enjoy some of the micro brew places, especially the Yukon Brewery in Whitehorse. Now folks, they make real beer, stuff with flavor, taste and just makes my mouth water to think about it. Every trip I buy what I think is enough to get my wife and I back home with a few remaining, but so far haven't made it out of Canada with any left over yet. Don't remember what they charge, but it is worth it no matter what.

Now what I have noticed in Canadian liquor stores, be it the private ones of Alberta, or the government run ones, of BC and Yukon, is the lack of any "cheap" hard booze. Not sure what the "professional" drinkers up there consume, to keep the shakes away. Some quality products (definition of that is, the stuff I drink) such as are imported from one of the commonwealth countries, can be cheaper than what it costs me here in Florida. Goslings Black Seal Rum, imported from Bermuda, is one such product. Other products are really expensive in comparison. They just don't seem to have any $4/$5 a 750 ML, of the standard stuff like we have here that are a crowd pleaser, especially with the college aged crowd.

Just passing through Canada, on the way to and from Alaska, I guess I just don't figure, I drink that much hard stuff, that the price really matters that much. Now for the wino crowd of forum members, that are the two or three bottle a day folks, it could get expensive I guess. Now I still have part of a bottle of "Canadian Rum" that I bought in 2011, never knowing that Canada grew sugar cane before this, LOL. It is excellent and I will buy another bottle next trip.

So yes, many things do cost more in Canada, but they have the old fashioned idea, that they should pay for the services they receive from the government. But of course, $.46 of every tax dollar they pay in, doesn't got to pay for interest on their national debt either. What a quaint idea!!!

Well, we're ready to pay! We're driving from Vancouver to Kingston, N.S.! Ouch!

Each person in the vehicle is entitled to a liter duty free. Make sure you do that and buying from a local store is no more $ than at a duty free border store.

And yes...being in Canada costs more. Gas, booze, smokes. Get your stuff in the US and drive like the dickens..you might make Alaska before running out.

I mean...really? people have to budget about 10 grand for the trip and they are worried that something costs a bit more than at home?


Gary Haupt

Orion wrote:
Here is a link to the Vodka available at the BC Govt. liquor stores. There are also many private liquor stores, in which the prices can be quite a bit higher, especially for 'run of the mill' items.

Orion, thanks for the link!

I'm just thinking about the limit of what we can take across the border and to keep it simple not take any across the border.

I know some people who just boycott alcohol when they go to Canada, but I like my happy hour and vodka is my choice. :)