The Canadian province of Alberta has issued winemakers in neighbouring British Columbia an edict saying that unless they halt their direct-to-consumer sales, it will no longer stock their bottles. On 22 January the Alberta Gaming and Liquor Commission sent a letter to wineries in British Columbia (BC) informing them that, if they did not immediately stop shipping wines directly to consumers in the province of Alberta, it would axe BC wines from being sold in Alberta retail stores. With DTC sales (often made via wine subscriptions) accounting for less than 3% of total BC sales, winemakers have been left stunned. However, Alberta claims that its residents are ordering wine directly from BC wineries instead of buying it in Alberta stores, meaning the province is missing out on collecting tax on those bottles. “It’s Alberta’s big liquor monopoly picking on the little British Columbia wineries,” said Dan Albas, MP for Central Okanagan-Similkameen-Nicola. “We allow Alberta breweries and distilleries to ship to B.C. but Alberta will not give the same reciprocity for our wines.” He added: “It’s easier to ship cannabis in Canada than it is wine.” The district council for Summerland, a town in British Columbia, is said to be penning a cease and desist letter to Alberta in response to the attack. Meanwhile, lawyer Al Hudec, who is thought to be representing a number of BC winemakers, has suggested that one fix could be remitting tax. Several BC wineries have already said they would be open to that solution. Hudec
This Article was originally published on The Drink Business - Wine
