Thursday March 6, 2025 | VICTORIA, BC
by Mary P Brooke | Island Social Trends
Liquor is now not being imported by BC, specifically products that are manufactured in red (Republican-led) states.
Private liquor stores, restaurants, bars and pubs will continue to be able to order impacted U.S.-made liquor products from existing inventory already in the province, while it lasts.
The BC Public Safety and Solicitor General, Garry Begg, has issued this statement (on March 5, 2025 direct to Island Social Trends):
- The BC Liquor Distribution Branch (LDB) is taking action in support of the provincial and federal government response to the U.S. tariffs enacted on March 4, 2025.
- Following the Government of B.C.’s directive, effective immediately, the LDB is halting the importation of U.S.-made liquor products manufactured in red states. BCLIQUOR (BCL) stores are immediately halting the retail sale and removing from store shelves all U.S.-made liquor products manufactured in these states.
- These impacted products will continue to be available for purchase through LDB wholesale distribution channels until existing inventory in British Columbia sells through.
- This means, other than BCL stores, private liquor stores, restaurants, bars and pubs will continue to be able to order impacted U.S.-made liquor products from existing inventory already in the province, while it lasts. U.S.-made liquor products from red states currently stored in third-party warehouses in B.C. will also be permitted to sell through.
Premier’s remarks today:
US President Trump has put a ‘temporary pause’ on tariffs effective today. However, political relations between Canada and the USA are still in a state of significant disruption.
“I do not support putting American liquor back on the shelves,” said Premier David Eby today
He intends for BC to hold onto resistance to US economic disruption until the tariff disruption by the US President has subsided and political discourse between Canada and the USA gets back to something resembling normal.
===== RELATED:
American liquor still on many BC retail shelves (February 2, 2025)
NEWS SECTIONS: CANADA-USA