Quick Facts – Liquor
(July 2016)
Liquor Retailing in Alberta – Before and After Privatization
Alberta privatized liquor retailing in September 1993.
CURRENTLY
BEFORE PRIVATIZATION
(As of March 31, 2016)
(From ALCB Annual Report, year ended Jan 5,1993)
Retail liquor stores
Off-sales (hotel/manufacturer/other)
General merchandise liquor stores
Other liquor retailers
(commercial caterer/sacramental wine/
delivery service)
1,424
465
95
Sales (Fiscal year 2014-15)
Spirits
Wine
Coolers/Ciders
Beer
Total:
275,819hl
436,077hl
273,018hl
2,817,285hl
3,802,199hl
Total liquor retailers
Products available
Pricing: Government set shelf price, which was
consistent in all stores.
803
2,200
Sales by volume In hectolitres (hl = 100 litres)
Dollars
(thousands)
$744,795
$565,672
$126,523
$1,103,274
$2,540,264
Revenue to government
(Fiscal year 2014-15)
208
530
65
108
Total liquor retailers
2,092
Products available
22,972
Retailers set shelf price based on market conditions and
competition.
Volume
(1hl = 100L)
Alberta Liquor Control Board stores
Hotel off-sales
Private retailers (beer / wine / agency)
$766 million
Spirits
Wine
Coolers/Ciders
Beer
Revenue to government
Liquor pricing and supply
 Manufacturers (or their agents) of spirits, wine and beer
ship their product to privately operated warehouses
approved by the AGLC.
 Licensees, including retailers, buy their liquor
products at wholesale prices.
 The wholesale price includes the
manufacturer’s cost, federal customs and
excise duties (where applicable), AGLC’s
flat mark-up, recycling costs, bottle deposit
and GST.
 The province retains the revenue from the
flat mark-up.
163,900 hl
155,977 hl
35,062 hl
1,773,817 hl
Total: 2,128,756 hl
$404.8 million
Liquor consumption
 74 per cent of Albertans said they’ve
had a drink in the last 12 months. Of all
Albertans, 88 per cent drink in
moderation, as calculated using
Canada’s Low Risk Drinking Guidelines.
(AGLC Survey of Albertans – Social
Responsibility, 2016).
Public satisfaction
 84 per cent of Albertans are satisfied
with the conduct of Alberta’s liquor
business.
(AGLC Survey of Albertans 2016).
aglc.ca
Quick Facts – Liquor
(July 2016)
Encouraging Responsibility
Liquor licences in effect
Responsible Service
(As of March 31, 2016)
Class A MINORS ALLOWED .................................... 3,904
Class A MINORS PROHIBITED ................................. 1,380
Class B .................................................................. 628
Class C ................................................................. 785
Class D ............................................................... 2092
Class E .................................................................... 62
Other (Duty Free/Liquor Agency)……….…………..….483
Total licences
9334
Explanation of licence classes
Class A: Applies to the sale and consumption of liquor in
premises open to the public. This class has two
categories:
MINORS ALLOWED (e.g. Restaurant)
MINORS PROHIBITED (e.g. Nightclub)
Class B: Applies to the sale and consumption of liquor in
premises open to those who have paid an entrance fee,
purchased a ticket, or are entitled to use the facility.
(e.g. Convention centre, racetrack, stadium)
Class C: Applies to the sale and consumption of liquor in
premises restricted to members or other specified
individuals.
(e.g. Private club, military or police canteen)
Class D: Applies to the retail sale of liquor for
off-premises consumption.
(e.g. Retail store, hotel off-sales)
Class E: Applies to the manufacture of liquor.
(e.g. Distillery, winery, brewery, brewpub)
Inspections
 So far in fiscal 2016-17, AGLC inspectors conducted
7,614 inspections at licensed premises.
 Inspectors check licensees for compliance in a
number of areas, including but not limited to patron
proof of age, selling to minors, serving to intoxicated
patrons and serving after hours.
 At no time may a licensee sell a drink for
less than:
Spirits / liqueur
$2.75 /1 oz or less
Beer / cider / cooler
$2.75 /341 ml bottle
or 355 ml can
Draft beer
$0.16 /oz
Wine
$0.35 /oz
 Patrons may not possess more than two
standard drinks at one time after 1 a.m.
Training for Licensed Premises Staff
ProServe
A liquor service training program available
online, in a seminar or by home study.
ProServe certification is mandatory for
anyone involved in security, or the sale and
service of liquor.
 Mandatory since January 1, 2010
 335,578 certificates issued since program
began in 2004
 So far in fiscal 2016-17, 12,707 certificates
have been issued
ProTect
ProTect is online training for security staff
and managers of licensed premises. This
training is mandatory for employees whose
position requires them to respond to
problems within a licensed premises.
 31,017 certificates issued since the
program began in 2008
 So far in fiscal 2016-17, 2,016
certificates have been issued
Funding for Alcohol Treatment
Full funding for Alberta Health Services
alcohol treatment programs is provided
through the Alberta Lottery Fund.
 23 liquor licensees have been issued administrative
sanctions so far in fiscal 2016-17.
Alberta Health Services Addiction Helpline:
1-866-332-2322
aglc.ca