Today, we are signalling to the industry how our final grocery framework is shaping up, so they have certainty and time to prepare – and so that the option for one-stop shopping can be available to British Columbians this coming spring. Keeping with the spirit and intent of Parliamentary Secretary Yap’s recommendations around liquor sales in grocery stores, this framework strikes the balance of added convenience for consumers and support for B.C.’s business sector, while at the same time respecting health and public safety considerations.” – Suzanne Anton – Attorney General

Government has outlined new details for B.C.’s liquor-
grocery framework – providing industry with further certainty and time
to prepare for the model’s implementation in spring 2015.

Aligning with the spirit of Parliamentary Secretary John Yap’s
recommendations and feedback from British Columbians throughout the
Liquor Policy Review, licensing under the store-within-a-store model
will support the “traditional” grocery experience.

In order to be eligible, grocery stores will need to have approximately
75% of their sales coming from food products and must be a minimum of
10,000 square feet. Grocery stores will have the opportunity to co-
brand with liquor stores – regardless of whether the liquor store is
physically in the grocery store – and there will be no minimum size
requirement for liquor retail stores set up within grocery stores.

The grocery model will not apply to general merchandise stores or “big
box” stores, nor to convenience stores, as previously announced.