Private Vancouver alcohol stores see rush to buy up last of U.S. booze

British Columbia’s move to pull United States-made alcohol from provincial shelves is fueling a sales boost at some private liquor stores.

Darryl Lamb manages the Legacy Liquor Store in Vancouver’s Olympic Village.

“Since this became a thing like that, first Sunday morning, we had a lineup at the door,” he told 1130 NewsRadio.

“We’re seeing huge sales in American stuff.”

It’s the same story just down the street at West Coast Liquor on Fraser.

“There’s definitely an uptick in the bourbon category,” the general manager said Thursday.

The removal of all U.S. alcohol — including wine, beer, and spirits — from B.C. shelves was made in direct response to the increased threats from the Trump administration, Premier David Eby explained last week.

“We’re doing this for a couple reasons. One, is to respond to the escalating threats that we’re seeing from the United States,” Eby explained March 10. “The other, is to recognize the feeling that many British Columbians have now when we look at American products, we don’t even want to see them on the shelf anymore.”

“I have received many emails and letters and interactions with people who they don’t even want to see American products right now in our government liquor stores, and so we’re sending that strong message,” he added.

However, not all the buzz has been positive at local stores. Lamb explains he’s also been noticing more tension, especially when people spot U.S. alcohol on the rack.

“It very much reminded me of when I was living in the U.S. in 2002, in the lead up to the war with Iraq, a lot of the more passionate people … it was like, ‘Hey, I’m just buying French wine here, man,'” he said.

While some shops are feeling the spike, others aren’t. Several say U.S. red wine sales, specifically, have taken a hit.

Meanwhile, if private liquor stores try to take advantage of a rush to buy U.S. booze, they could be on the hook for big fines if they are caught trying to obtain any new supply after B.C.’s Liquor Distribution Branch runs out.

Under the Liquor Control and Licensing Act, sourcing liquor from anywhere else than the LDB is illegal.

The Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General says penalties for the unlawful sale and purchase of liquor range from $7,000 to $11,000 for the first offence, $15,000 for the second, and up to $25,000 for subsequent offences.