Why is that, anyway?

I thought it was just wine for some reason, and that had been changed (maybe it's still in the process).  If it's still illegal I recently broke a law :)

I think it dates back to prohibition.

If someone was taking large amounts over and planned to sell it, to profit their home province/ provincial business, I understand. But to bring a six pack over, I'm not sure I get the point.

It's part of political campaign platforms now- to change it. I think both the liberals and conservatives. I thought, "huh. I never knew nor even thought about it." it's just never been a priority.

http://www.cbc.ca/newsblogs/yourcommunity/2012/06/should-alcohol-flow-fr...

What's wrong with buying it elsewhere to sell at home, as long as someone is legally allowed/icenced to sell booze?  I support a reasonably free market for alcohol - excluding minors and I can even understand taxing it.

Nothing. I don't really care. I can just see the logic behind it if there was a business consideration rather than a personal one. If there's significant profit involved, I can see that being a consideration (for the provincial government trying to profit, not me). If it's just to put a few beers in the fridge, who cares?

I just find the lack of private stores in some provinces a little weird.  And then there's Sask.  Maybe it's changed, but the last time I was in a liquor store there I was confused.  Public hours vs. private hours with different sets of prices or something odd like that.

Like, if people were to buy beer cheap (booze is cheaper) in Alberta and sell it here cheaper, BC businesses would lose money. Maybe BC should bring down the prices a little- but I don't buy enough that it even makes a difference.

I noticed in Alberta there are more private liquor stores, and the prices were low. Not that we should be encouraging huge alcohol consumption or anything. That leads to more drinking and driving and minors buying it, I think. The more convenient it is. It is a potent drug. People should be able to buy it and enjoy it responsibly, don't get me wrong. I just don't think it's the same, entitlement wise, as food.

An American tourist in Safeway in Vancouver asked me if some other grocery store sells alcohol. I told her she'd have to go to the liquor store down the block (it's a provincial one, most are here). I thought about it and was glad because if it was in the grocery store I'd buy it more often and get too used to it. That's me though. I'd rather not keep it in the house for health reasons- medications, etc. just buy it once in awhile.

Why is it cheaper in Alberta though?  If it's because of taxes, they would still need to be charged.  If it's because producers sell it for a lower price, that's where a free market is a good thing.

I don't think it should be in grocery stores either.  I actually keep a decent amount in the house.  I just don't think it's a good idea to add that further temptation to those avoiding it.  It also makes it easier to watch who's buying it, and to limit the hours.

AFAIK they are all private here.  They were private well before I was able to buy liquor.  I think my parents remember the time when privatization first occurred.

I remember when it was provincial ( the ALCB) and my grandma taking me in there when I was little. But, living in BC, I guess I never paid attention to the changes or thought about the economics of it until I was older. Btw, what's AFAIK? :)

As far as I know.

I think so too. It would be easier for minors to get it if they could just go to some out of the way convenience store. When I was in high school...oh, boy. That would have been a problem for my class. Also, the drinking age is 19 in BC. I know it is 18 in Alberta. I was happy to go there and order a drink when I was 18 and come home and brag a about it, when others were trying to figure out how to sneak into a bar. Terrible, huh? Can't imagine high school teachers dealing with drunk abd hung over grade 12 kids at school. I would think it might happen more often, the younger it's actually allowed. Although, in European countries, wine's served younger. They have more respect for it, I'm told. They don't make a big deal of it. Also, higher rates of alcoholism, I've read.

Nah, I recently bought a bottle of wine in a grocery store just because I could.  It wasn't even very good :(

I mean. We were bad kids. Seemed normal to try though.

People often take advantage of a new opportunity.  That's why I bought the wine, and why you ordered the drink.

My European friends used to buy drinks in bars, wine, growing up. It was never a big deal and no one thought it was bad. They also do tend to have more alcoholism. Same with smoking, younger. The life expectancy is lower.

I know there's a Calgary liquor store that often gets American shoppers.  They aren't buying your average stuff, but high end stuff that can sometimes be difficult to obtain.  Apparently it's cheaper there because people aren't as willing to pay as much for it as they will in the US.

It was weird that it was legal for them to do so, but illegal for Canadians from other provinces to do it.

There a few things cheaper in Alberta people pay top dollar here for. Like real cowboy boots. I saw some gorgeous boots that are way better than the cheap trendy imitations, for the same price pretty much ;). Otherwise, you'd pay double in an upscale boutique. it's probably true for some "BC" things too, although can't think of any. Smoked salmon?

pot

Lol. I don't buy that either. But you could be right.

Yeah, they would have had to declare it.  This was the really expensive stuff though, so it's not like they were just saving $10 a bottle or something by coming to Calgary.

So the only thing cheaper in BC is something illegal. That's no good. We have nice scenery, and mild weather though. ;)

lol There's probably more.  Maybe lulus at one point?  Pot is what immediately came to mind though, and I don't even touch the stuff.

Fruit would probably be better there.  Especially things like berries.

Lulu Lemon? I wouldn't know. I can't afford it (not even one thing so I can have a shopping bag to walk around dowtown with like the other girls ;) )and they probably wouldn't even sell my size. Lol. A Blackberry...no, wait.

I love BC. It's my home. It's beautiful. Just wish it wasn't so darn expensive.

Comparing prices is hard though.  It's easier city-city rather than province to province.

You can buy fresh Sushi here super cheap. Under 10 dollars and you'll be full. It's good. It doesn't glow in the dark yet, maybe by next year if we don't get a handle on that somehow, and the fish have migrated from Japan, you can buy glow-fish-sticks (sheesh, what a goofy mood I'm in- just naturally. The only substance I've had is coffee. Too much today. Lol. Anyway. Making light of a worrisome situation. We eat a lot of Pacific fish here, too. So I hope that problem can be well handled soon. It's hardly being mentioned- that's why I joke. "Hey. Look. Glowing sushi!"). We'll probably end up with more controlled fish farm fish. Other than that, I know where you can score some cheap, red "Canada" mittens, still. That would be...just about everywhere that sells mittens. Dollar stores have them although they may not be "official" red mittens. There's a surplus. We hardly even wear mittens here. ;)

Well, Victoria's pretty much the same. Maybe even more expensive for some groceries because it's on an island. Maybe the interior's cheaper. Whistler's like, 5 bucks for an apple (exaggerating but it's crazy expensive).

Fruit. Yes. That's true (maybe even fruit stands near whistler but not grocery stores there). We get lots of variety, too. Exotic fruits that you don't see as much, you come across interesting produce all year. Like star fruit. But I don't think it's grown here.

This has turned into more of a social chat between chemgal and I. Mostly me talking (sorry people). I guess no one cares much about the subject. Neither do I. Just curious because I hadn't heard of it until yesterday.

I have never heard of any restrictions on taking alcohol across provincial borders.  I also don't carry booze around in the car, so it isn't a problem!

I live close to the Quebec border and buy most of my beer there. It cost more to buy it at the LCBO. I didn't know it was illegal to do that. This is news to me. I know if you try to bring back the empties to the LCBO they ask you where you bought them.

It reminds me of that country song that goes" beer is good, god is great and people are crazy." Well two out of three aint bad.

There's a money making idea - going to provinces where they don't charge a deposit, or a smaller deposit and recycling them in another one.  I probably wouldn't be too lucrative after paying for transport :)

Any idea if they all charge the same?

You can't bring them back to a store here, recycling depot only for the money.

I had fun :)

Discussion is better with a shorter timeframe between replies.

Here most things are $0.10, stuff over a litre is $0.25

I haven't driven across the provincial border for years. We didn't bring any then. I've never taken it on a plane anywhere. So, it never occurred to me. It's not well publicized, I guess. Soon, it sounds like it won't be illegal anyway.

It sounds as if the rates here are the same as they are in Alberta for deposits. 

I am wondering how/if they catch the average person who is carrying booze over the border? It's not as if there are border crossings.

Somegal, from what I've heard it's only if people are getting into trouble for something else.  If you were just speeding they won't bother even if it's in the backseat.  If someone is doing something stupid like driving with their feet while sticking their head out  the sunroof (it happened) they will look for whatever they can!

LOL - anyone who's caught driving with their feet should have their licence revoked anyhow - unless, of course, they have a physical disability and a specially adapted car.