Amid backlash over Victoria’s decision in June to introduce minimum prices for alcoholic beverages, the government is backtracking — somewhat — by dropping the price for pitchers.
A standard 60-ounce pitcher of beer or cider will now cost British Columbians $12 instead of the previous $15, the province announced July 25.
When the government introduced minimum pricing to B.C. on June 20, the standard price for beer and cider was $0.25 an ounce.
The new rule allows bars and restaurants to charge patrons $0.20 an ounce for pitchers above 50 ounces.
Adam Chatburn of the Vancouver chapter of Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA), which has been fighting the new prices since they were implemented last month, said the announcement is a good step forward.
“We’re pleased that the government has listened to consumers and actually appeared to have thought this through a little bit more,” he said, “however, we’re not satisfied until we get a minimum pricing that actually works properly for small businesses and the consumer.”
The price for a 20-ounce glass of draught beer has not changed, meaning an establishment cannot charge people less than $5 for a standard pint.
Chatburn said British Columbians living in urban areas may be accustomed to be paying prices that high, but it’s another story for people living in rural areas.
“We knew there had to be some level of minimum pricing so there wasn’t the concept of $2 drinks or $1 drinks,” he said, adding $0.25 an ounce for beer is “far too high.”
B.C. Justice Minister Suzanne Anton said in a statement the government was open to revisiting minimum drink prices when the policy was introduced.
“Creating a new category for draught beer in servings over 50 (ounces) is a fair balance for consumers that still takes into account the views of business owners and health and safety advocates.”
But Chatburn said the updated pricing could go against the government’s intentions of creating more responsible drinking habits since consumers could be enticed to buy larger quantities of alcohol to save money.
The minimum price for wine ($0.60 an ounce), sake ($0.60 an ounce), spirits ($3 an ounce) and packaged beer and cider ($0.25) all remain the same.
In Alberta, the minimum price of draught beer is $0.16 an ounce.
The lowest an establishment there could sell a standard 60-ounce pitcher is for $9.60, while a standard 20-ounce pint could go for as low as $3.20.
The government announced minimum prices the same day it introduced happy hour regulations. B.C. was the last province in Canada to allow establishments to change the price of drinks throughout the course of the day.
