Bill 170 (alcohol): Dates You Should Know

Bill 170 on the sale of alcohol in Quebec was adopted on June 12th.

Most of the new measures affect the sale of alcohol in restaurants, but some concern depanneurs and have different dates of application.

Here they are :

1) Hours allowed for the sale of alcohol

  • Retailers earned an hour more during the day to sell alcohol, from 7 am instead of 8 am;
  • This measure is effective from July 1, 2018;

 

2) Locking refrigerators

  • Although no one was doing this anymore, the old regulation required retailers to lock their beer “fridges” and put a chain and padlock cloth on their beer stands on the floor;
  • This provision has been abolished. However, this measure officially comes into effect from 1 July 2018;

 

3) In-store tasting

  • It used to be prohibited to offer in-store alcohol tastings unless through the manufacturer’s personnel;
  • From now on, alcohol tastings will be allowed if they are conducted by your own staff;
  • This measure, however, depends on the adoption of a government decree before being in force;
  • It is not yet known when this decree will be adopted, so the date of entry into force is not yet confirmed. It could take several months.

 

3) Malted beverages

  • Malt beverages with an alcohol content greater than 7% (eg Four Loko) are now prohibited from sale by grocery permit holders;
  • This measure has been in force since the adoption of the Bill, on June 12;
  • All malt beverages over 7% in inventory should no longer be offered and should be destroyed or returned.

 

For more information, visit the retailer information page (in French only) of the RACJ’s (Quebec Liquor Board) website by clicking HERE.

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