Bulletin 23-11: Increase in liquor transfers between licences

Publication date: December 18, 2023

Who's impacted

This change applies only to the following licences: 

  • Liquor Primary
  • Food Primary
  • Licensee Retail Store
  • Rural Licensee Retail Store
  • Wine Store
  • Catering 

What's changing

Licensees who hold multiple licences can now purchase and sell (transfer) up to $100,000 of liquor between their own licences annually (January 1 to December 31). The licences:

  • Must be held by the same licensee/legal entity
  • Are limited to a combined total of $100,000 of liquor transferred between them
    • (e.g. a licensee with four licences who transfers $20,000 between each of them would reach their limit)

This is an increase from the previous limit of $10,000. 

The change allows licensees additional flexibility to transfer their inventory between the following licence classes: 

  • Liquor Primary
  • Food Primary
  • Catering licence 

This change also allows liquor retailers to transfer their inventory between their retail licences in the same class: 

  • Licensee Retail Store to another Licensee Retail Store
  • Wine Store to another Wine Store in the same subcategory (i.e., a BC VQA store can sell to a BC VQA store)
  • Rural Licensee Retail Store to another Rural Licensee Retail Store

What's the same

For licensees who wish to purchase from another legal entity, the annual limit remains at $10,000. 

Manufacturer licensees continue to be ineligible to transfer product between licenses as this is generally incompatible with the intent of the lounge endorsement. 

Helpful information

The language in the terms and conditions is updated to reflect that the transfer of liquor between licences is legally the purchase and sale of liquor between two parties. The changes can be found in the: 

Both parties must keep records within their liquor registers indicating the:

  • quantity,
  • brand and type (sku #) of liquor purchased and sold,
  • its value,
  • date of purchase/sale, and
  • the licence numbers of both parties.

The liquor register must be available for inspection at all times.

You can find more information about the liquor register in the terms and conditions handbook for your licence (see the "Liquor Register" section, under "Your Liquor Licence"). 

Disclaimer

Bulletins are for general information and may not apply to all situations. Bulletins do not constitute legal advice nor are they a comprehensive statement of the legal obligations that arise under the Liquor Control and Licensing Act, Cannabis Control and Licensing Act, regulations, or any other applicable laws.

When interpreting and applying the information contained in the Bulletins, you are encouraged to seek advice from your professional advisors as appropriate in the circumstances.

 

Questions

If you have questions about this policy change, email LCRBLiquorPolicy@gov.bc.ca.