Whether it’s unwinding after a long day or accompanying a nice meal, few things beat a nice glass of wine — especially one from B.C.
While wine is one of B.C.’s best-known products, it’s hard to believe that more than 90 per cent of our wineries have been around for less than a quarter of a century. Despite B.C.’s relative lack of ‘vintage’ our wines, of which there are more than 80 different varieties, frequently compete and win on the world’s stage.
It’s no secret the provincial government is a big booster of our wine industry — after all it supports over 10,000 full-time jobs and is worth over $2 billion annually to B.C.’s economy. So this is why the government is keeping its promise to British Columbians to increase consumer choice and convenience.
Starting on April 1, grocery stores will be able to stock 100 per cent B.C. wine on their shelves, including fruit and honey wines. This retail model will meet new opportunities for B.C. wineries, supporting our home-grown economy and address calls for the added convenience from consumers.
In addition, this phase of the liquor-in-grocery model will allow existing VQA stores and independent wine stores to relocate or transfer their licence to an eligible grocery store — as long as the licence is only used to sell 100 per cent B.C. wine. Eligibility for grocery stores that sell 100 per cent B.C. wine off the shelves will align with the “store-within-a-store” model criteria — maintaining a minimum of 10,000 square feet and approximately 75 per cent focus on food products and service.
While we want to see the industry continue to grow and thrive, no one wants to see alcohol in the hands of minors. That’s why we’re making it a requirement that all off-the-shelf wine transactions must be done at designation registers and staffed by employees with their Serving it Right certification and are at least 19 years old.
The wine-in-shelves model is one of the many ways that B.C. is changing its liquor laws to grow local businesses in this province. This phased-in approach will give liquor retailers in the Cariboo and across the province an opportunity to look at their existing model, to see if this is a model they want to adopt.
The New Year is upon us, so let’s toast it by raising a glass of B.C. wine and support home-grown products.
Coralee Oakes is the MLA for Cariboo North and is the Minister of Community, Sport and Cultural Development.
